Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, on Sunday raised the alarm on the troubling spate of insecurity in the country, saying Nigeria was already sleepwalking into a collapse, even as he sadly noted that intelligence reports demonstrated that t#rrorists were already sleeping in forests both in Osun and Ogun states.
Iba Adams raised the alarm in a statement he signed personally, and made available to newsmen by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Kehinde Aderemi, but repeated quickly his earlier warning that Yoruba weren’t cowards, calling on everybody in the region to be observant and watchful in checking this insecurity scourge, which he said was already stiff-necking Nigeria and could not let the nation breathe.
This was just as he called on governors in South-West states to ensure that they recruit local security service structures in their various local governments, while also calling on anybody with useful information that had any security implication to tell the traditional rulers, leaders in their respective locality or even himself “for us to meddle and report same to the right quarters.”
According to the Yoruba generalissimo, the South-West governors should ensure the recruitment of at least 150 people in each local government, saying that this local security architecture would be given allowances as salaries with their jobs mapped out to assist and complement the efforts of Operation Amotekun that had been existing in five out of the six states in the region.
Besides, Iba Adams said he was ready to offer assistance in case the governors needed it “or any kind of assistance or that of Southwest Security Stakeholders’ Group (SSSG) in bolstering our region’s security.”
“For instance, the information reaching me today is that the terrorists are in-between Osu forest and Ile Ife, Osun State, and fully armed with various ammunition. And they are present in the forest between Abeokuta and Ibadan planning to attack us in the South-West. This is one piece of information that we need to act on to avoid a possible disaster.
“Yoruba aren’t cowards. So, Let everybody in the South-West be vigilant and be watchful in checking this insecurity scourge that is already stiff-necking Nigeria and could not let the nation breathe.
“We are aware of their plans to strike in Lagos, Ibadan, Oyo State, and Abeokuta in Ogun State. However, I implore all the governors in the South-West to recruit local security service structures in their various local governments.
“But, we will never allow them to destroy our land. Therefore, we urge the six governors in the South-West states to hold an urgent emergency security meeting with stakeholders across the region to address the forthcoming implosion.
“At least, 150 people in each local government. This local security architecture would be given stipend as salaries as their job is to assist and complement the efforts of operation Amotekun that had been existing in five out of the six states in the region,” the Yoruba generalissimo stated.
“I want to also urge anybody with useful information that has any security implication to tell the traditional rulers, leaders in their respective locality, or even me for us to intervene and report same to the right quarters.
“However, it must be said also that in case the governors need my help or any kind of assistance or that of Southwest Security Stakeholders’ Group (SSSG) in strengthening our region’s security, I am ready to offer the assistance,” he added.
“Nothing guarantees safety in any country or region other than the synergy and cooperation among all the stakeholders.