The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has raised the alarm over the influx of terrorists into the old Oyo National Park.
In a statement on Wednesday by his media aide, Mr Kehinde Aderemi, the leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, also revealed that insurgents have found their way into Kishi town in Oyo State.
Adams noted that the influx of the insurgents posed a great danger to the security of the South-West region. He alleged that the terrorists had started threatening the peace of the community by kidnapping residents for ransom in the region.
He, however, vowed to mobilise all Yoruba interest groups to join hands with the security agencies to flush out the criminals, who have taken the town.
He said, “I have received numerous reports from Kishi, North-West of Oyo State and these range from ceaseless kidnapping, rape and a threat to the lives of Yoruba people in the Oke Ogun area with Kishi as the present hub of terrorist attacks.
“The records are there. The recent intelligence report from Kishi is too frightening because terrorists have taken over the area with the number of victims growing by the day.
“We need to react to these senseless killings because of the timing and exigencies. I have sent the report to the Oyo State governor, Eng. Seyi Makinde.
“I have also alerted the Director-General of Amotekun in Oyo State. I have also informed the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, through a message to Alaafin’s Personal Assistant, and I have informed the Okere of Saki.”
Adams said he decided to raise the alarm because the region was becoming a den for armed bandits and terrorists masquerading as herdsmen. He warned that if the criminal activities of the group was not quickly curbed, the South-West might be sitting on a keg of gun powder.
“The Aare in Council had earlier raised the alarm on the infiltration of terrorists and killer Fulani herdsmen in the region.
“Over 500 power bikes and assorted armour belonging to the terrorists have been physically sighted along the abandoned Lusada route moving towards Sokoto, from Igbo Ora in Oyo State.
“With the present situation, I think there is an urgent need for the state government to address the spate of insecurity in the area.
“We are ready to support the government in keeping the terrorists at bay with the approval of the Oyo State Government and other relevant security agencies.”
