Provocative killings/invasion by militants: Enough is enough, Yoruba elders warn

THE Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), an umbrella body for all Yoruba, has warned that the South-West will not tolerate nationalities of other regions to run the zone to a theatre to prosecute their agitation.

This was as the body said it would not fold its arms and watch criminals killing the people and disrupting the economic activities of the zone.

In a statement signed by its chairman and secretary, Right Reverend Bolanle Gbonigi  and Senator Anthony Adefuye, respectively, the body said now that the peace of the South-West had come under attack, enough is now enough.

The forum also demanded full investigations to unravel the personalities and motives behind recent attacks on the innocent people of Igbolomu and Ishawo areas of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

In the last few months, residents of the zone had lived under the siege of Fulani herdsmen attack across the states of the region and recently, residents of Igbolomu and Ishawo areas of Ikorodu were attacked by the Niger Delta militants.

Also, the deputy governor of Ogun State, Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga and her entourage escaped death by the whiskers during their visit to the communities.

The crisis at Erekomuti/Itaoluwo areas of Ikorodu between two suspected pipeline vandal groups also allegedly led to death of few people and created tension in the land.

The continued attack, YUF said, was threatening peace and tranquillity of the zone, an experience it said the zone was not ready to condone again.

It called on the Federal Government to immediately deploy military in the affected areas.

The forum also chided security agencies which, it said, were busy making unconventional statements about the figure of the dead.

“The role of security agencies in these attacks is questionable. While families were grieving and counting their losses, the security agencies were busy disputing the number of dead as if the gravity of crime is determined by the number of dead,” the statement added.

“Nigeria is at the precipice, threats of insecurity to life and property is no longer the exclusive preserve of any particular community. The peace and quietness in the South-West in the last few weeks has again come under attack, in spite of the ongoing criminal activities of armed Fulani herdsmen in the region. The attacks this time is coming from an unlikely foe, the Niger Delta militants.

“The  despicable criminality by this group against innocent citizens of Igbolomu and Ishawo areas of Ikorodu in Lagos shall not go unpunished. The South-West people are peaceful, accommodating and hospitable and are gratified neighbours as exemplified by the absence of border disputes with neighbouring communities.

“It must be emphasised that the Niger Delta militants have taken their agitation too far by these unprovoked attacks, which led to the killing of about 100 innocent men, women and children in their ancestral homeland in Ikorodu.

“Furthermore, these scum, not done with the attacks on the defenceless citizens of Ikorodu, proceeded to attack the convoy of the Ogun State deputy governor who was on her way to visit the communities. She was attacked along with the Brigade Commander and other security chiefs.

“While we hold no grouse against any nationality pursuing their agitation, we take very serious exceptions to nationalities exporting criminality and violence to achieve their objectives.

“The South-West will not tolerate nationalities to turn our land to a theatre to prosecute their agitation. We shall certainly not also fold our arms and watch criminals kill our people and disrupt economic activities. The attack on the deputy governor of Ogun State and her entourage is provocative and daring,” YUF stated.

The forum then called on the Federal Government to “order full investigations to unravel the persons and motives behind the attacks and deploy military in the areas to protect the people,” adding that the police alone could not contain the criminal activities.

It also asked the government to arrest and prosecute all persons involved in the attacks, including the sponsors.