The Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, and Middle Belt Forum, MBF, have thrown their weight behind Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State in his resolve to rid the forest reserves of bandits.
Similarly, the body cautioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, for ordering the arrest of Sunday Ighoho, who is perceived as the Yoruba Ethnic Rights Activist.
The MBF in a statement yesterday said: “It is unacceptable for the Federal Government to interfere in the genuine efforts deployed by Governor Akeredolu to end the ceaseless abductions of peaceful citizens for ransom.
“We find it inscrutable for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration to insist on defending criminals whose major preoccupation is unleashing violence and terror on peaceful communities.”
Also, the Deputy President of the O’dua People’s Congress, OPC, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi, in a statement after an emergency meeting of the group at the Century Hotel, Okota, Lagos, said no Southerner would go to the North and carry out killings, kidnappings and banditry.
The statement read: “We are fully prepared to help enforce Governor Akeredolu’s quit notice in Ondo State at the expiration of the two-week deadline.
“Anybody found in the jungle will be regarded as a kidnapper and bandit and will be appropriately dealt with. We Yoruba shall rise up to defend our land from foreign marauders who daily rape our women, kill our farmers and kidnap Nigerian citizens. Enough is enough.”
Also, the OPC described the manhunt launched by the police for Mr. Sunday Igboho as misguided and provocative.
It said: “The government must guarantee the life of Sunday Igboho. Rather than declare Sunday Adeyemo an outlaw, the Federal Government’s security agencies should turn their attention against criminal elements engaging in kidnappings and killings in the South.”