Daud Olatunji
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has declared its unwavering support for Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, dismissing calls for the Federal Government and Oyo State Government to sanction him over his recent anti-banditry campaign.
The group insisted that Igboho’s actions were directed at kidnappers, bandits and other violent criminals operating in the South-West, and not at any ethnic group, describing attempts to portray him as promoting ethnic hatred as “blackmail.”
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, in Ibadan, Afenifere maintained that the activist had neither violated any law nor engaged in violence to warrant calls for disciplinary action against him.
The organisation was reacting to demands by the Concerned Fulani People of Nigeria and other northern groups, including the Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum and Coalition of Northern Groups, which urged President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to caution Igboho over remarks made after the abduction of a woman and her children in Igbope, Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The controversy followed Igboho’s two-hour ultimatum to the kidnappers to free the victims or face consequences, a move that drew sharp criticism from the northern groups.
However, Afenifere said the Yoruba Nation agitator was merely confronting criminality and should not be vilified for speaking against insecurity.
“Since he was not violent in his action nor conducted himself in a manner that violates the laws of the land, calling on the authorities to deal with him borders on blackmail,” the group said.
It stressed that Igboho’s campaign was aimed solely at individuals involved in kidnapping, terrorism, banditry and killings, and not at the Fulani ethnic group.
The organisation recalled that Igboho, through his spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki, had already clarified that his advocacy was against criminal elements regardless of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation.
Afenifere maintained that Yorubaland had remained home to Nigerians from different parts of the country, including thousands of people of northern extraction who had coexisted peacefully with their hosts over the years.
According to the group, security challenges only escalated with the activities of criminal herders accused of invading farmlands, displacing communities and engaging in kidnapping and other violent crimes.
It further alleged that illegal mining syndicates had also fuelled insecurity, claiming that some operators financed terrorism after forcing local communities off mineral-rich lands.
The socio-political organisation argued that the perception linking many kidnappers and terrorists to northern Nigeria stemmed from the identities of several suspects arrested for such crimes and reports by security authorities that some terrorists displaced from the North-East had infiltrated parts of the South-West.
It urged northern leaders to channel their energies towards addressing the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, youth unemployment and the growing population of out-of-school children vulnerable to recruitment by criminal groups.
Afenifere also commended President Tinubu for forwarding the Executive Bill on the establishment of state police to the National Assembly and applauded lawmakers for its swift consideration.
The group called on state Houses of Assembly to expedite action on the bill when transmitted to them and urged governors to establish properly trained, well-equipped and adequately funded state police outfits immediately the legislation becomes law.
It added that state police personnel should be carefully recruited, professionally trained, well remunerated and covered by life insurance to enhance effective policing and strengthen the fight against insecurity across the country.
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