Ibarapa Youths Storm Makinde's Office, Protest Insecurity

 

Youths from various parts of Oyo State on Monday, stormed the State Secretariat at Agodi to register their displeasure against the incessant killings by criminal herdsmen in Ibarapaland, Oke-Ogun and other parts of the state.

The youths also are protesting the arrest and the remand of three members of the Oodua Peoples Congress in prison on the order of the court.

The three members were a part of the vigilante groups that captured the dreaded Fulani herder in Ibarapaland, Iskilu Wakili. They were layer charged with murder and arson and were remanded in prison.

The protesters, who are mainly from Ibarapaland stormed the Secretariat where the Governor’s Office is located at around 10:40am to register their displeasure about security issue in the area.

Armed with placards with various inscriptions denouncing killings, kidnapping, rape and large destruction of farms and other atrocities.

One of the organisers of the protest, Oladiran Oladokun, who is additionally the Converner of Igangan Development Advocates, told The PUNCH on the sidelines of the protest that the arraignment and remand of the three OPC members was a sign to several Nigerians that security agents should be left alone to do their job.

He said Wakili terrorised the people for so long and despite their refusal to arrest him, the OPC members and others risked their lives to arrest the septuagenarian herder but the they detained by the police on the same day.

Oladokun said, “We are here to protest the arrest and remand of the three OPC members in prison. These men are heroes, they risked their lives to arrest Wakili who has terrorised the people of Kajola, Ayete and other villages.

“They went to Wakili’s place and arrested him but the police turned against them and detained them. this is a bad signal to Nigerians on security issues.”

Recall that there has been growing insecurity in Ibarapaland where suspected Fulani herdsmen have killed, raped and kidnapped farmers and other residents.

Meanwhile, Suspected herdsmen on Sunday allegedly invaded the residence of mother of Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho.

Igboho’s spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, confirmed this on Sunday night via his Twitter handle.

He wrote: “Chief Sunday Adeyemo’s mother’s house at Igboho was invaded by three Fulani men this evening around 7:54pm.

“Two of them escaped, one is currently held at Igboho police station.”

He stated: “Three terrorists were caught in Sunday Igboho’s mothers house and not two. One was caught and two escaped.

“I just spoke to Sunday Igboho and he told me that two foreign Fulani terrorists were apprehended in his mother’s home in Igboho, Oyo state this evening.

“Their mission was to harm Mama. One of them escaped whilst the other is with the police. Those that sent them are playing with fire.”

He added: “I am appealing to those who are behind these provocations against his person & reckless attacks to desist from this nonsense.

“Sunday is a heroic figure in the South West and by far the most powerful, vocal and popular figure in Yorubaland today.

“Harming him or his family members will not augur well for the peace and stability of our nation.”

Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode also confirmed the attack via his twitter handle.

He tweeted: “I just spoke to Sunday Igboho and he told me that two terrorists were apprehended in his mother’s home in Igboho, Oyo state this evening.

“Their mission was to harm Mama. One of them escaped whilst the other is now in police custody. This is a dangerous course to tread. Think twice!”

This alleged attack on Igboho’s mother may not be unconnected to his declaration of a Yoruba state last week.

Igboho made the declaration while speaking in Ibadan last Wednesday.

In a video of the event that has gone viral, Igboho said all the borders will be opened, while lamenting that major institutions in the south-west are headed by people of Fulani origin.

There is no evidence to substantiate this clam.

The youth leader came to prominence after he issued an eviction notice to herders in Ibarapa area of Oyo state.

He also forced Seriki Saliu Abdulkadri, Fulani leader in Igangan, to leave the town and relocate to the north.

“We no longer have peace in our home. We have a good country but our leaders are bad. We don’t want them again,” he said.