Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has urged Nigerians to support the security initiatives of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying sustained economic growth cannot be achieved without a safe environment.
Igboho said the success of the Federal Government’s economic and infrastructural reforms would depend largely on improved security, particularly in rural communities, farms, forests and other areas vulnerable to criminal activities.
He spoke in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, during the launch of the Iru Ekun Security Network, according to a statement issued by his media office.
Speaking at the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Igboho said security should be treated as a national responsibility beyond political, ethnic and religious considerations.
He urged Nigerians to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could assist security personnel in identifying and dislodging criminal elements.
Igboho said the benefits of infrastructure projects and economic reforms would remain limited if insecurity continued to prevent Nigerians from accessing their farms, businesses and communities freely.
He said, “the current infrastructural facelift in South West and other regions, most especially roads network and economic reforms which are ingredients for overall development can only be explored for the betterment of Nigerians by restoration of effective security and safety of all communities.”
He added, “Therefore, our conventional security agencies currently being supported by local security initiatives like Iru Ekun should be encouraged and motivated to further tackle criminalities in the society.”
The activist said the new security initiative would intensify efforts against banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities threatening communities across the South-West.
“We are committed to eradicate banditry, kidnappers and other hoodlums constituting threat to peace, safety, tranquility of Yorubaland.
“The era of bandits killing Yoruba Obas is over.
“We would not tolerate the abduction or killing of our people in the South West.”
Igboho expressed optimism that Nigeria’s security situation would improve significantly before the end of President Tinubu’s second term, saying this would accelerate the country’s socio-economic development.
“Before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ends his second term tenure, Nigeria’s security would have been water tight to speed up the socioeconomic growth of our nation.”
He said the initiative was particularly focused on protecting agricultural communities and forest reserves from criminal elements, adding that traditional rulers had already conveyed their concerns to the President.
“We don’t want to see any bandits or hoodlums in whatever guise in our farms and forest reserves. That was our plea to Yoruba traditional rulers and they have made our position known to Mr President.”
“This informed the approval granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of Iru Ekun Security Network.”
Igboho called on traditional rulers to alert the security network promptly whenever there were signs of attacks or security breaches in their domains.
“If there are reports of attack or security breach in our farms and villages, our revered traditional rulers should contact Iru Ekun for necessary action. We will not tolerate any ambush of our people again,” he said.
He said the ultimate objective was to restore the confidence Nigerians once had in travelling and carrying out their economic activities without fear of abduction, robbery or attacks.
“We want to go back to peace and security of the olden days when our father could decide to travel to anywhere in Yorubaland without any fear of attack or threat.
“It is possible and we are going to restore such hope and confidence in a safer environment for all,” he stated.
Igboho also recounted some kidnapping cases recorded in Oyo State, highlighting the impact of ransom-driven criminality on residents.
Recalling the recent rescue of an elderly farmer in Okeho, Oyo State, he said the victim had only N8,000 on him and was eating wara when he was abducted.
“There was a case of one elderly man we recently rescued in Okeho, Oyo State. The man, who is a farmer had only N8,000 on him when he was kidnapped and he was eating wara, a local snack when they seized him. The hoodlums demanded N10 million ransom,” he said.
He also recounted the abduction of a woman and her child in Iwere Ile, saying the kidnappers demanded N200 million for their release.
“There was another case of a woman and child abducted in Iwere Ile, where her kidnappers demanded N200 million ransom.
“Her husband had been a victim of kidnapping before the incident and he paid N60 million before he was released. While rescuing the woman one of our Iru Ekun personnel was killed,” Igboho said.
He vowed that the security network would intensify its operations against criminal gangs despite the risks involved.
“This time around we are squaring up with bandits and kidnappers.
