On Saturday, the Oyo State Police Command arrested five people for setting fire to a police van and damaging Elete Outstation on the new Oyo-Ogbomoso Expressway in the Atiba Local Government Area of the state.
According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, in Ibadan, the suspects, who were stuck in traffic on the expressway, expressed their anger towards the police for not being able to clear the road.
The police's initial investigation shows that the suspected troublemakers charged towards the nearby Elete Out-Station, set fire to the Out-Station’s patrol van, and damaged parts of the building due to the police's perceived failure to manage the traffic.
Despite their attempt to break into the out-station, they were met with strong resistance from officers conducting confidence-building patrols from nearby police divisions, including the Area Command.
As a result of the quick response and resistance from the police, no weapons were stolen and no lives were lost.
Five male suspects were arrested, and two unregistered DAF and Volvo trucks were taken as evidence. The case has been transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, to uncover any other motives in addition to the suspects’ alleged 'gridlock issue.'
