The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, says the recent abductions and subsequent killing of a teacher abducted from an Oyo school is a clear indication that Southwest must prepare to tackle insecurity head on.
Adams made this remark on Tuesday during an interview on ‘Sunrise Daily’ a programme on Channels Television.
The monarch condemned in strong terms the attack, describing the incident as disturbing.
“What happened in Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State a few days ago is very sad and highly condemnable.
“We have had a series of kidnappings in different states, but we have not witnessed mass kidnapping in Yorubaland, and that shows that the Yoruba race in the South-West must prepare for this issue of insecurity,” he said.
He recalled that he had repeatedly raised concerns about insecurity in the region and had earlier warned that criminal elements had infiltrated some South-West states.
“Precisely, in November last year, I mentioned four states that these criminals had infiltrated. I mentioned Ondo State, Ekiti State, Osun State, and Oyo State. And there was a time, particularly, I mentioned Ogun State, but as the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, I have limited power to be involved in the security architecture of the country, especially Yorubaland.
“I had written to the South-West governors that there is a need for collaboration on the issue of security; all hands must be on deck on these issues. But for the past two years, they have not replied to me.
“I have poured it out on different media platforms. We held a world press conference on this issue about five months ago that there is a need for the Aare Ona Kakanfo, through the Aare-in-Council and 14 different organisations, not only the Oodua People’s Congress, to collaborate with the government,” he added.
The Yoruba leader questioned why governors and other stakeholders in the region failed to respond to his calls for cooperation, while lamenting that some people blame him for the worsening insecurity despite his limited constitutional powers.
Recall that bandits invaded the Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State last Friday, abducting staff, students, and pupils of Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and LGEA Primary School.