The Commandant of Amotekun in Oyo State, Colonel Olayinka Adeyanju (Rtd) has said the 140 Northerners that were arrested in Ibadan on Tuesday were stopped and taken in for questioning because they were moving in large numbers.
He stated this while answering to questions by journalists who wanted to know why the northerners were being questioned.
There were apprehension and rumours within Ibadan and many parts of Oyo State since 4pm on Tuesday after words went round about the arrest of the northerners with some persons saying the travelers were terrorists or members of the dreaded Boko Haram.
Adeyanju said, “We did not arrest Boko Haram members or criminals. Those we arrested are here. Policemen are here, DSS operatives are here and the NSCDC men are also here.
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“They are profiling them as I talk to you. We saw them in a truck and moving such huge number of people is suspicious and that was why we stopped them and brought them here.
“We arrested them and we invited other security agencies to come and profile them.
“With that, they will know if there is any of those who escaped from jail among them. They will find out their mission and where they are going to. They will be released if they are found to be law-abiding citizens.”
Operatives of Amotekun Corps in Oyo State had intercepted the conveying the mostly youth travelersfrom the North travelling to Ogun State.
It was gathered that the vehicle was conveying the packed passengers from Zamfara State which is one of the hotbeds of Bandits and terrorists in the North.
TheNewsGuru further learnt that the truck, which was heading to Ogere in Ogun State was stopped at around University of Ibadan-Bodija Road.
Some of the occupants of the truck were said to have jumped off and fled immediately they sighted the security men.