Yoruba socio-cultural organisation Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has appealed to the federal government to permit and equip the organisation and other self-determination groups to confront the threats posed by terrorists and criminal elements in Yorubaland.

The group in a statement signed by its President, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi, particularly condemned what it called the avoidable kidnapping and killing of pupils and teachers in Oyo state as well as similar incidents in other parts of Yorubaland.

According to him: “The kidnapping, killing and beheading of our defenceless Yoruba kinsmen in Yorubaland is not only condemnable, it is highly provocative; and it will not be tolerated.

“We hereby urge the government to permit and equip the OPC and other self-determination groups to confront the threat posed by terrorists in order to terminate the insecurity being imported into Yorubaland.

“Yorubaland is under attack. Long ago, we warned; we shouted. But our leaders continued to play politics and refused to act on the matter. Now we must face the reality that the enemies have surrounded us.

“Our people say: to be forewarned is to be forearmed. But Yoruba people and our governors have been wallowing in this unbelievable sense of fake safety and security, while ignoring the looming danger by foreign bandits, terrorists and their local collaborators.

“We will not tolerate a situation where our children cannot safely attend school, where our people cannot travel or where our farmers cannot farm because of some foreign elements.

“Time has come to take the bull by the horn and confront these unprovoked, cold-blooded and needless killings.”

The group also expressed anger over the beheading of one of the abducted teachers wondering what offence the teacher committed to have deserved such fate.

“What offence did this defenceless teacher Mr. Michael Oyedokun commit to deserve such a horrible fate of being beheaded? How can you report for duty in the morning, get kidnapped and wind up beheaded like a chicken?”, OPC queried.

It warned that every minute terrorists remained in the forests would only give them a stronger foothold to build a fortress from which they would unleash more evil against Nigerian citizens.

“OPC wants governors in Yoruba-speaking Southwest and beyond to urgently invite all vigilante, hunter and militant groups to join the war against terrorism in Yorubaland. Governors must immediately declare a state of emergency and get all hands on board to collaborate with the security forces to restore peace to our native land.

“We cannot fold our arms anymore and wait for bandits and terrorists to be entering our homes, our towns and villages to kidnap and kill at will. Enough is enough. The government must rise up, support and equip patriotic and willing individuals and groups like OPC to enter the forests to restore sanity.”

Urging all the relevant executive and legislative arms of government to expedite action on the creation of states-run police, OPC called for the Southwest to adequately equip all the groups for adequate security in the meantime.

The group further encouraged the government to do everything needed to end the nightmare of the children and teachers abducted from the schools in the Ogbomoso axis of Oyo state. (The Nation)

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