Director-General of the combined team of security operatives in Oyo State called Operation Burst, Colonel Oladipo Ajibola (rtd), has said officers of the security unit are all out to rid the state of One Million Boys and all other groups constituting a nuisance in the state.
Oladipo stated this on Monday, adding that the killing of the leader of Ibadan notorious gang called One Million Boys, Abiola Ebila, on Sunday was done in line with the resolve of the Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration to stamp out all forms of crimes and criminalities in the state.
Giving an account of Sunday’s incident, Oladipo explained that not only was Ebila killed while trying to escape through the river line of the Kudeti River, but there were evidences that some other members of the One Million Boys gang escaped with gunshot wounds.
He said a sporadic shootout with the One Million Boys gang occurred when men of Operation Burst moved in to rescue the victim who was kidnapped by the gang and kept in an abandoned building in the area.
Though he said that some members of the gang were able to go away with the corpse of their leader, Oladipo declared that the operation was successful going by the killing of Ebila, the injuring of some gang members and the fact that the kidnapped victim was rescued.
Oladipo urged residents of the state not to fret on living in a peaceful environment, assuring that Operation Burst will continue to be in the vanguard in security and ensuring the safety of lives and properties in the state.
“We got credible information. So, in the course of moving to the Kudeti area, where the distress call came from, the informant further informed us that there was a kidnap victim in an abandoned building in the area.
“The informant told us that three of Abiola Ebila’s boys kidnapped a victim, so we moved in.
“We are aware of the fact that One Million Boys and other groups have constituted themselves as a nuisance.
“On sighting us, One Million boys started with sporadic fire and in the course of exchanging fire many of them sustained injuries. We then gunned down Abiola Ebila and then moved into the abandoned building where we found the victim, Olufemi Awogboro and we rescued him.
“During the operation, other members fled, collected the corpse and took him away but there was trail of blood hence the operation was successful.
“This was done in line with the mandate of His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde that we must rid Oyo State of crimes and criminalities and that security of lives and properties is important.
“The security of lives in Oyo State is guaranteed. Oyo State will continue to be a very safe place for all citizens. The people should continue to go about their lawful businesses.
“Oyo State will continue to enjoy a peaceful atmosphere and we will continue to be the vanguard in security, safety of lives and properties in Oyo state,” Oladipo said.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Nwachukwu Enwonwu said Ebila was not killed by its officers.
He said the late Ebila had since April 11 been on the wanted list of the Oyo State Police Command over the killing of the leader of a rival cult group, Moshood Oladokun, popularly called Ekugbemi.
