kidnapping, banditry must be eradicated in South West — Igboho

The Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, on Saturday ordered all volunteers of Iru Ekun Security Network in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti states to ensure total eradication of kidnapping, banditry and other criminalities in communities and agrarian settlements.

Igboho, who gave the order in Lagos while inaugurating the state chapter of Iru Ekun Security Network, said the current reduction in the spate of abduction for ransom, banditry and other heinous crimes must be sustained within the ambit of the law.

A statement by Igboho media office disclosed that the security outfit was committed to confront and checkmate anybody regardless of ethnic or religious colouration who constitutes threats to peace and stability in the South West.

Describing the organisation as a panacea to insecurity and other emerging threats to communal peace and safety, he contended that tactical support through intelligence and versatile personnel by the Police, the Department of State Service (DSS), and other paramilitary agencies had greatly assisted Iru Ekun to subdue criminals in the South West.

While contending that Iru Ekun Security remains the best local initiative to reinvigorate and strengthen security in the South West, Igboho cautioned volunteers in Lagos against exceeding the limit and standard set by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu and the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Tosin Ajayi, in the discharge of their duties.

The statement reads, “We have had a successful launching of Iru Ekun in Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun and Lagos with intimidating population of volunteers coming out to work for effective security of South West states. This laudable feat was as a result of approval of our private security agency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and laudable support by our governors.

“We have to commend heads of security agencies in Nigeria for their respective motivation, technical support and cooperation, which have contributed immensely to the recent rescue operations of victims of kidnapping, banditry and other criminalities in our communities, most especially in agrarian settlements and forests.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that since the advent of Iru Ekun Security Network, cases of abduction, herders-farmers’ clash, banditry and other incidents of insecurity have subsided in the South West. We must not relent in the our efforts to ensure that we rid our states of criminals in order to foster visible socioeconomic developments in Yorubaland.

“I can assure you all that Iru Ekun will outlive the regime of President Tinubu after the completion of its second term in office by 2031. But as volunteers you must not interfere in civil matters such as land disputes, recovery of debt, marital crisis and snatching of peoples’ wives. Image and credibility of our security organisation must be guarded jealously and protected through responsible and decent conduct by all volunteers.

“It is pertinent and gratifying to inform the public that we have restored hope and confidence of our people in Owa Onire community, in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, who were hitherto sacked by gun weilding bandits. The community became desolate after they fled their ancestral homes.

“Now they have returned as a result of our intervention. Currently, personnel of Iru Ekun Security Network are mounting guards in Owa Onire and the displaced inhabitants have the confidence and courage to thrive in their domain.”