Following the infiltration of the South-West region by suspected fleeing Islamic State in West Africa Province, ISWAP, and Boko Haram terrorists from North-West and North-East, there is uneasy calm in the region.
Many, especially in the interiors and border communities, are living in fear over the likely activities of the terrorists.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had raised the alarm that fleeing bandits and ISWAP fighters are making their way to the South, saying this may heighten insecurity.
To prevent the rise in insecurity following this development, stakeholders, including the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams; the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, Soludero Hunters’ Association and Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, have issued a stern warning to Boko Haram and ISWAP members hibernating in the region to leave the South-West now or die.
Sunday Vanguard reliably gathered that the respective state commands of the police, Amotekun and local hunters are battle-ready to confront any form of insecurity.
Miners hiding B-Haram, ISWAP members – Gani Adams
Gani Adams, who admitted that Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters are hibernating in the South-West, accused miners of hiding the terrorists.
Adams revealed that as the Yoruba generalissimo, countless letters have been written to South-West governors on the need for collaboration, adding that all has fell on deaf ears
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland said: “We are worried over the influx of Boko Haram fighters in the South-West. We have discussed at the Aare-in-Council meeting, the OPC meetings and South-West Security Stakeholders’ group.
That is why I am being careful. I wrote letters last year to all the governors but there was no reply. If they don’t respond, we will continue to do the little we can do underneath but history will judge all of us. Anywhere you see terrorists, it is always about mineral resources, they scare the people away and cause a crisis in the area.
“We have the structure, the assets and some of the best brains who can be helpful to the South West. As far I am concerned, the ball is left in the court of the governors to do the needful.”
Asked whether there has been any form of collaboration between the OPC and Amotekun corps, Adams said: “When Amotekun was founded, OPC members, vigilantes, hunters and other private security groups were recruited but it was not enough. For instance, Oyo State is big, you cannot say 1,000 Amotekun corps can cover such a vast state. They will need like 30,000 personnel. Unfortunately, the governor can only cater for only 2000 personnel, but we can back it up with relevant security groups coordinated by my office.
“If you say I should not take charge, I will step back but mind you, I always do some behind-the-scenes spiritual work on securing Yorubaland because I don’t want the issue to go out of hand.
“Even if I do some behind the scenes spiritual work and I am not involved in strategy, it is not enough.”
