'Rinse Terrorists from Yoruba -land' -Yorruba groups demand immediate action from Tinubu

The groups made the call during the Western Nigerian Security Summit, held in Oranmiyan Hall in Ikeja, Lagos, where stakeholders, security experts and traditional leaders gathered to address the security crisis that threatens the region. The Yoruba meeting, in collaboration with various groups in Pan-Yoruba, demanded immediate and decisive measures of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to combat the rising wave of terrorism that bothers the west of Nigeria. The groups made the call during the Western Nigerian Security Summit, held in Oranmiyan Hall in Ikeja, Lagos, where stakeholders, security experts and traditional leaders gathered to address the security crisis that threatens the region. In his main reason delivered on behalf of the planning committee of the summit, Adewale Adeye, he painted a grim picture of the ongoing violence in the Yoruba country. Adeye, referring to the alarming increase in terrorist attacks, kidnapping and country invasions, emphasized that the people of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Delta states suffered uninterrupted assaults that cost thousands of lives. “Our indigenous areas, which have existed for more than 3,000 years, are now besieged. Our forests, countries, rivers and holy sites are desecrated by terrorists who have no respect for our way of life. We must resist or perish,” Adeye said. He condemned the systematic destruction of agricultural land, streams and places of worship, linking the crisis with a decline in food production and increasing fear among farmers, women and fishermen. He pointed out that reports of kidnapping, forced marriages and violent assaults on communities have moved and left in despair. Adeye has much more concerned about the impending threat of food insecurity, and emphasized how persistent attacks by armed groups paralyzed agriculture, reduced the production of crop and forced many farmers to abandon their countries. He noted that women and children are especially vulnerable, with many who are afraid to risk in the forests or streams, for fear or worse. ‘Our food sources are systematically destroyed. Farmers cannot access their countries, hunters are caught in deadly ambushes, and fishing communities are attacked. We see a planned eradication of our people, “he stressed. The groups also investigated the sophisticated funding networks that maintain terrorist groups in the region. Adeye pointed out evidence of international financing of terrorism, citing intelligence reports that linked local rebels to global jihadist networks such as the Islamic State for West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Al-Qaeda subsidiaries in North Africa. ‘The terrorists in our forests are not mere bandits. They are well funded, well armed and well -trained. ‘ The billions of Naira collected as ransom are not invested in local economies, but are used to acquire more weapons, “he warned, adding,” We must wake up to this reality. ‘The Yoruba meeting and its allies strongly criticized the slow response of the state and the federal authorities. Bolster intelligence operations and take decisive steps to flush out of Yoruba country terrorists. Posted Yoruba communities for years. Where was the outrage when hundreds of our people were killed in the north? “Where are the calls to justice when four traditional rulers were killed in Yorubaland?” He questioned. He called on Yoruba leaders to take a stronger stand in advocate of justice and safety for their people. The groups have decided to strive for self-sufficient safety measures, including the strengthening of AmoKun, the South-West regional safety outfit. They also called on greater unity among Yoruba leaders to address the crisis head. ‘We need to map a new course for our security. Our homeland needs to be made safe again, and we cannot afford to wait for external redeemers. ‘ The time to act is now, ‘ADEOOYE declared and joined participants together to remain steadfast in their search for justice and security.