By Alao Abiodun

Yoruba self-determination groups’ umbrella body Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO) on Sunday rose in defence of those arrested at the weekend during the Yoruba Nation rally around the Gani Fawehimi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos.

They committed no offence, IOO Media Communications Secretary Maxwell Adeleye told The Nation in a chat on Sunday night.

Lagos State Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu, who paraded 49 suspects, said they were arrested for violating the order that no rally or gathering should hold in the state.

Maxwell described the parade as a show of shame, stating that the IOO has demanded their unconditional release.

Read Also: PHOTOS: Police parade Yoruba Nation protesters arrested in Lagos

He said: “They were picked up wrongly. The protest yesterday (on Saturday) was aired live on different media outlets and we were peaceful and orderly and not unruly.

“We were at Panti to secure the bail of the arrested persons, but when we got there, we were told they’ve been transferred to Ikeja. Our lawyers were at Ikeja to stop the parade.

“To Prof. Banji Akintoye it is a sad day for democracy, they claimed to have seen traditional amulets on them, is it a crime? Muslims go to mosque with their ‘tesbih’ while Christians go to church with their Rosaries, even in Osun state there is Isese Day. We have those that believe in Prophet Muhammed, Oya, Sango and the likes.

“It is not fair, because you caught people with charms and amulets, it is not that they were using the charms to attack people, nor using it to foment trouble, just because they were peaceful asking for their right for self-determination, they were arrested.

“I can assure you that we’ll challenge it legally within the ambit of the law, the lawyers will be there at Panti to secure their release tomorrow. Those arms were not caught in the arms of those protesters. It was just to taint and destroy the integrity of the agitation.”