The Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, along with various security organizations, including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and the Hunters’ Association, has criticized South-West governors for their lack of collaboration in stopping bandits from influx into the region.
This statement comes amid the report indicating that fleeing bandits and terrorists from the Northern part of the country are advancing towards the South West.
Naija News understands that the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, recently expressed concerns regarding the movement of bandits from the North-Central region into Southern Nigeria, particularly the South West.
Speaking, however, on the speculations on the influx of the criminal elements, Gani Adams stated that the governors of the South West have yet to respond to his appeals for cooperation in enhancing state security measures to eliminate the threats posed by terrorists and bandits in the region.
In a statement through his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, Adams emphasized that Yorubaland must become inhospitable for terrorists and members of ISWAP, asserting that measures are being implemented to combat the rising insecurity in the area.
In response to the various dangers associated with the influx of ISWAP and bandits into the South West, he noted that, in addition to the OPC, there are over ten private security groups, collectively known as the Southwest Security Stakeholders Group (SSSG), under his leadership, which are prepared to eradicate the presence of terrorists and bandits from Yorubaland.
“We are ready to do the job and we are not going to relent until there is peace in our region,” he said.
No South-West Governor Responded To Our Letters
The OPC in the Southwest has expressed its willingness to engage in efforts to combat insecurity in the region; however, it emphasized that such participation is contingent upon obtaining the approval and support of the governors.
The Deputy Coordinator of OPC in Ogun State, Alao Olusola, told Vanguard in an interview that the leadership of the OPC has reached out to all governors in the region through written correspondence, requesting their authorization to address the insecurity issues in the area.
Unfortunately, there has been no response from any of the governors, he noted.
Olusola said: “OPC wrote letters to traditional rulers in the region on the same subject matter, but none of them responded to the letter.
“But as members of OPC, we are partnering with Police in our different areas to fight the insecurity in our areas.
“If the governments in the Southwest can give us go ahead, we are ready to flush out all criminal elements in the region.”
Meanwhile, the Hunters association and OPC in Ondo State have accused the state government of not involving them in their efforts to tackle insecurity.
An OPC member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “It’s unfortunate that the Ondo State government has not deemed it fit to carry us along in their fight against insecurity.
“It will be in the interest of the state if we are carried along in the fight against insecurity across the states. It’s not only in this state, reports we get from across the states in the region are that the governors in the South West government don’t mind us. We are doing ours in the interest of humanity.”
Also responding to the development, the South West Media Officer, Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS), formerly known as Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services (NHFSS), Bayo Adediran, said: “Some governors including Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State have been assisting our group via provision of operational vehicles, motorcycles and adequate recognition.”
“I strongly believe that our Southwest governors will join hands with the department to flush out criminals in our forests.
“The Southwest Special Forest Force, SSFF, under the leadership of Ambassador Emmanuel Adedayo, is a department in the NFSS, specially designed to combat evil perpetrators in our forests.
“We hope that our governors in the region would collaborate with us to tackle insecurity in the region. They cannot tackle this menace alone. We are closer to the grassroots,” Adediran told newsmen.
We Are Waiting For Gov’t Call For Collaboration – Osun OPC
On his part, the Coordinator of OPC in Osun State, Adeyemi Aboderin, said the local security group is still anticipating the state government’s invitation for collaborate on dealing with insecurity in the state.
Aboderin said: “We have received a standby order from the Aare Ona Kakanfo, Iba Gan Adams, to be vigilant and collaborate with the state government to ensure proper security of forest and border towns in the region.
“However, here in Osun State, we are still waiting for the State Government to reach out to us on areas of collaboration to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state.
“We have 36,000 members spread across the 30 local government areas of the state and all of the units are ready to do the needful in contributing to the safety of the state. We are ready and would collaborate with the government whenever they reach out to us.”
Meanwhile, the Commanders of the South-West Security Network, commonly referred to as Amotekun Corps, have pledged to eradicate terrorists and other criminal elements that have infiltrated the area.
Naija News reports that the Chairman of the South West Amotekun Commanders, Adetunji Adeleye, made this statement while presenting 21 suspected criminals in the state.
Adeleye emphasized that the security organization is resolute in its efforts to halt the influx of such individuals and to expel those who have already entered the region.
“The region is not home for criminals. We have put in place another strategy that I won’t want to disclose for security reasons.
“What is certain is that we are on top of the situation and ready to protect our people against these criminals.
“The South West is not a place for them to hide or stay; we will smoke them out and send them away.
“The breaches at our borders had reduced as a result of the activities of the Amotekun,” he said.
Speaking on the suspected criminals arrested in the state, Adeleye said that his personnel intervened and foiled about 15 kidnap issues within a month. He said: “We have four kidnapped suspects, five that violated the anti-open grazing law and 12 that breached the general law and order of the state. The implication of this after due analysis is that the state is relatively peaceful.
“The security breaches we have, range from suspected kidnappers, fighting and civil disorder, wandering, anti-grazing, stealing of phones and attempted murder, stealing of aluminium products, destruction of properties, conspiracy and stealing of motorcycles, conspiracy, stealing and aiding and abetting of motorcycles.”