Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, has alleged that politicians are behind the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State and threatened to publicly identify those responsible if the attacks continue.
Speaking during a meeting with newly elected leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students at his residence in the Soka area of Ibadan on Wednesday, Igboho claimed he had information about individuals allegedly sponsoring criminal activities in the state and accused them of supplying weapons and financial support to kidnappers.
“I know the politicians behind them, and if they do not stop perpetrating their evil acts, I will mention them all. I know them. The politicians behind them are the ones giving them ammunition and money,” he said.
The activist maintained that he had volunteered to lead efforts to flush out the kidnappers responsible for the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area but was prevented from doing so by the state government.
According to him, authorities later informed him that the abductors had threatened to kill the victims if he attempted any rescue operation.
“If I am permitted to burst into the hideouts, they will flee. They are neither gnomes nor mannequins; they are humans, so that they could be dislodged,” he said.
“Later, they (Oyo government) informed me that the kidnappers said if I try to force myself to come rescue the children, they will kill them all. If they are serious about rescuing the victims, they should tell my boys and me to chase them out of the forests in our regions and see if those people will remain there even with their bombs and sophisticated weapons.”
Igboho also claimed that he never requested financial support from the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde for any rescue mission and insisted his intervention was motivated solely by concern for the abducted victims.
He further alleged that despite receiving federal approval for his security outfit, known as “Iru Ekun,” the Oyo State Government discouraged him from operating in the state.
“After I arranged ‘Iru Ekun’ security network, the Federal Government permitted me, but the state government said no security must take a step behind them. Do we have to wait for him to flood the forests to rescue these children?” he said.
The activist linked the security challenges to what he described as a wider political agenda aimed at destabilising the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“The same thing they did to Jonathan is what they are doing to Tinubu. They want to make the country ungovernable for him. They even have fake news propaganda to scare the masses and divert supporters away from the President,” he alleged.
He added, “Despite how bad Buhari’s administration is, he completed his tenure. Why are they trying to stop a Yoruba man, Tinubu, from completing his? It was Tinubu who freed me when I was in exile. Why should I tackle him? And why are they trying to ruin his government?”
The comments come amid heightened concern over the abduction of dozens of pupils and teachers during an attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
Security agencies have since intensified operations in forest areas around the affected communities as efforts continue to secure the victims’ release.
A teacher at Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Elizabeth Olagoke, had earlier disclosed that the attackers communicated in Yoruba, Hausa and Pidgin English during the assault.
