Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, urged the federal government and Southwest governors on Tuesday to expedite approval for the operation of a security network aimed at cleansing criminal elements out of Yorubaland’s forests.
Igboho made the words in a statement released to express sympathy for the families of the victims of the school attack and the heartbroken parents of the abducted students in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
He said, “I’m only awaiting the approval of the government to tackle growing insecurity ravaging the South-West headlong.”
Igboho stated that he had completed all of the procedures required for the activities of the Iru Ekun Security Network, which will rid the Southwest forests of bandits, rogue herders, and kidnappers who had already taken over the forests but were awaiting official sanction.
The statement read, “I don’t want to start our strategic and effectively mapped-out onslaught against these criminals without the official approval from the Federal Government, Southwest governors, and relevant security stakeholders—the police, Department of State Service, Nigerian Army, and others.
“What happened in the Ahoro-Esinele community and other previous security breaches are sad, unfortunate, and worrisome considering the plights of the victims of abduction, most especially the innocent pupils.
“My heart is with the parents of the abducted pupils and families of the slain teachers and security personnel, who lost their lives in these dastardly acts.
“However, it is crucial at this juncture not to procrastinate in taking decisive actions capable of restoring peace, effective security, and confidence of our rural communities that are specifically bearing the direct brunt of avoidable vicious killings and attacks by bandits in the southwest and some parts of Kwara State.
“We are battle-ready with our men to storm these forests and flush out marauders who have made lives miserable for our people. We cannot afford to continue like this and fold our hands while we watch our people being mindlessly murdered and abducted by bandits, herders, and kidnappers.
“Our revered traditional rulers should also weigh in by prevailing on government authorities to speedily grant approval for the takeoff of Iru Ekun Security Network in order to end the upsurge in insecurity plaguing the South West.”
Chronicle NG reports that the victims were abducted during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, in the Oriire Local Government Area, on Friday, around 9:30 a.m.
One of the abductees (a mathematics teacher), identified as Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded by the kidnappers on Sunday.
