The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams has raised the alarm over the alleged infiltration of Oyo State by armed terrorists. Adams yesterday, in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Kehinde Aderemi, said armed terrorists now occupy Kishi, located in North West of Oyo State, as well as old Oyo National Park.
He said the recent development poses a great danger to the security of the entire South West area. Adams said in the past few days, the armed groups have engaged in kidnapping and other illegal operations in the area which threaten the livelihood of innocent citizens and access to forest resources.
“I have received numerous reports from Kishi, North West of Oyo State. The reports range from ceaseless kidnapping, rape, and a threat to the lives of Yoruba people in the Oke Ogun area with Kishi as the present hub of terrorist attacks. It’s my responsibility to alert the public and also the relevant authorities”
Adams said.
Adams expressed worries that the region was gradually becoming a haven for bandits and terrorists masquerading as herdsmen. He warned that the situation must be nipped in the bud to prevent the South West taking the ignoble part of the North East and the North West areas of Nigeria where violence has taken firm root.
He said what appears like the gathering of armed groups in the area would affect the stability of the entire South West region if not quickly address. According to him, “the occupation of the land by armed groups is an assault on Yoruba heritage and civilization, saying that part of the forest host the sacred tabernacle of ancient Yoruba Alaafin whose graves were located in parts of the forest. Recent intelligence reports at my disposal indicate that the terrorists are now visible at the old Oyo Game Reserve at Sooro village in Kishi town, Irepo Local Government of Oyo State”.
He stated further that he was raising the alarm for the second time in two weeks. “The records are there. The recent intelligence report from Kishi is too frightening because terrorists have taken over the area, with the number of victims growing by the day. We need to react to these senseless killings because of the timing and exigencies. I have sent the report to the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde.
“I have also alerted the Director-General of Amotekun in Oyo State. I have also informed the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, through a message to Alaafin’s personal assistant and I have informed the Okere of Saki”,
he said
He said his action was to tell all those concerned about the security situation in the area to respond decisively. Adams however, urged all Yoruba sons and daughters in the South West and beyond not to relent in their efforts in providing necessary information that was capable of exposing the terrorists, assuring that he would surely channel the information to the appropriate quarters.
“With the present situation, I think there is an urgent need for the state government to address the spate of insecurity in the area. We are ready to support the government in keeping the terrorists at bay.
With the approval of the Oyo State Government and other relevant security agencies, I can mobilize the southwest Security Stakeholders Group (SSSG) comprising the Oodua Peoples Congress, Vigilante Group, South West Hunters Association, Yoruba Youth Council, Agbekoya Farmers Society Group, and Agbekoya Group to complement the efforts of the security agencies and ensure effective security and safety of the area by flushing out the criminal elements and terrorists that are invading our reserve forest and old Oyo National Park which is our heritage in the southwest,”
Aare Gani Adams said.
