By Akinwale Kasali
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has expressed worry over the maiming, kidnapping, killings, assaults, rape and wanton destruction of lives and properties of people in the South West by Fulani Herdsmen.
The Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Coordinator alleged that some people in the South-West, mostly opinion leaders, are colluding with Fulani herdsmen to commit crimes such as kidnappings and armed robbery in the region.
Adams stressed that for insecurity to be eradicated from the region, the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun must be allowed to function effectively, without hindrance from any quarters.
Speaking on a breakfast show on ARISE Television, Adams said that whether the Fulanis and their people colluding with them like it or not, tue South West Security outfit, Amotekun, is here to stay.
Expressing worry that some bad elements in the South-West were collaborating with criminal herdsmen, the Yoruba leader said: “Some people pressured me to talk on the happenings in Ibarapa, Ondo State, and other areas in the South-West.
“But I am someone who does not dance to unnecessary pressure. Before I take any step, I make consultations. I realised that on the issue of insecurity, the South-West has been infiltrated by bad elements.
“The security threat we are having in the South-West now, our people (Yoruba) constituted about 25-30 percent of the security threat.
“When some Fulani herdsmen that were arrested around Ilesha by the OPC, vigilante and Amotekun were interrogated, we gathered that the person who prepared food for them is a Yoruba person.
“We also gathered that the person who provided information about the person to be kidnapped is a Yoruba person.
“It means we have to apply strategy to the security threat. Where is the problem coming from? Who are the evil ones among us?
“If you want to fight insecurity conventionally, the only way out is to support Amotekun.
“Amotekun should not be frustrated. With time, they will understand the terrain and know how to perfect it; but when we crucify them, it will affect Yorubaland.
“We are happy that Amotekun had been gazetted and signed into law by the South-West governors but I want to appeal to Yoruba people to allow the system to work effectively and not only on paper and by words, but creating an enabling environment for them to function effectively”.
