There was palpable tension on Saturday in Idi-Iroko, Nigeria’s border town with Benin Republic located in Ipokia LGA of Ogun State as some secessionist agitators stormed the area in a bid to reopen the land border.
The border located in Idi-iroko, is among other land borders shut across the country by the Federal Government in August 2019, as part efforts to check smuggling and other illicit cross-border activities.
Although President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the reopening of some land borders, the border located in Idi-iroko has remained closed.
On Saturday, some Yoruba nation agitators stormed the border to forcefully reopen it, defying the directive of Buhari.
In a viral video, the agitators were seen daring the Immigration Officers, men of the Nigerian Customs Service and other security agents at the border post to shoot at them.
In the 19-minute-and-23 -second video clip, an unidentified man snatches a gun from an Immigration officer.
In the video, the agitators were seen destroying the gates at the border while screaming, “We have opened the border at Idi-Iroko!”
The agitators were also heard demanding for the establishment of the Yoruba Nation, saying the Yorubas have woken up from their slumber and have decided to ask for independence.
Recall that the New Diplomat had reported that some Yoruba Nation agitators stormed Osun and Ondo States respectively to organise a Yoruba Nation Mega Rally, which they said was aimed at sensitising the Yoruba people on the need to join their campaign.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, Hammed Oloyede, confirmed the incident.
Oloyede also confirmed that the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service manning the border areas were able to repell the attack, as peace and order was restored.
However, he failed to confirm if any casualty was recorded or any arrest was made.
