OPERATIVES of Operation Burst, a security outfit in Oyo State, on Monday, arrested two men, Ramon Lukmon and Ibrahim Ajibola, as well as a 13-year-old girl (name withheld) after a double barrel gun was found in the Land Rover Sport Utility Vehicle belonging to one Adesola Ojo, who also dorns the regalia of Irekosodo masquerade.
Nigerian Tribune gatherted that the occupants of the SUV, with registration number GGE 402 AC were nabbed at about 6.30p.m. at Oranyan area with the Made-in-Italy double-barrel gun with serial number 20110249, while others in the vehicle escaped.
A source at the Operation Burst’s office revealed that the followers of Irekosodo masquerade wreaked a lot of havoc in Ibadan city on Monday, when they destroyed several vehicles and looted shops, shooting sporadically into the air.
It was learnt that two men among those arrested tried to resist arrest by the Operation Burst operatives but were eventually overpowered.
The Commander of Operation Burst, Brigadier-General Laz Ilo, told the Nigerian Tribune that another Toyota Sienna bus loaded with armed thugs escaped arrest, adding that his men had to be cautious in the attempt to arrest them because of the crowd.
The daughter of Irekosodo masquerader told the Nigerian Tribune that her father, who resides in Lagos, came with his family to Ibadan last Saturday to dorn the regalia of Irekosodo masquerade which he took over from his father. She added that her father was a land speculator and an artist in Lagos State.
The girl admitted that her father possessed a gun which he gave to one of his boys called Idowu, while two other followers of her father also kept the recovered gun in the Land Rover.
The girl stated further that on sighting the Operation Burst vehicle, which was pursuing them, the two boys removed the butt of the gun and escaped with it.
However, the driver, Lukmon, claimed ignorance of the presence of the gun in the vehicle, while Ajibola said he was on a motorcycle as a supporter of Irekosodo masquerade when he was arrested.
The Operation Burst commander, who noted that last year’s festival was also marred by violence, warned that the outfit would not sit by and watch an exercise which was supposed to be a cultural display to be turned into an avenue for perpetrating crime and violence.
Saying that Operation Burst would deal ruthlessly with anyone who uses the festival to exhibit violence, Brigadier-General Ilo said the arrested suspects would be handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
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