The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, on Thursday warned criminal herdsmen to stay away from the South-West or face the wrath of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC).
Adams issued the warning while reacting to an alleged attack by Fulani herdsmen at the residence of Nobel Laurete, Professor Wole Soyinka, in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
In the statement signed by Kehinde Aderemi, his Special Assistant on Media, Adams said the manner of the encroachment was a threat to the privacy of the Nobel laureate.
The Aare said reports available to him from Southwest states showed that criminal herdsmen have migrated from Ibarapa in Oyo State to Yewa in Ogun State.
He lamented that the recent developments and reports made available to him across the South-West have shown that “criminal herdsmen have migrated from Ibarapa, in Oyo State to Yewa in Ogun State, making the state prone to increasing spate of insecurity”.
Adams also wondered why President Muhammadu Buhari has been complacent with the growing spate of insecurity across the South-West, declaring that activities of criminal herdsmen are “worrisome and very unbearable”.
“We thank God that the recent encroachment on Prof’s residence failed. Professor actually saw it coming but I think the fundamental problem in this country is that we have a president that seems to be complacent on serious issues. It is in our own interest to continue to raise our voices against the unprecedented threats to the southwest region,” he added.
The Aare Onakakanfo also urged the South-West governors to boost the recruitment of OPC, Vigilante, and Hunters in the South-West security Network better known as Amotekun to strengthen the security outfit in the region.
“OPC is ready to offer intelligence report, physical and technical supports to the governors in addressing the menace of herdsmen attacks and killings in the region,” he added.
Adams also advised the South-West governors to reinforce the region with the recruitments of Amotekun personnel, especially, to palaces and homes of prominent people and personalities living in the rural areas and communities across the region.
This, he said, would help to “reduce the illegal influx of criminal herdsmen and put a stop to the threats to individuals’ lives and property.
“There are reports of some people that were using soldiers to threaten the natives of some communities in Ogun and Ondo states for dislodging illegal herders in their respective communities. The chief of army staff should investigate the reports and bring those behind the reports to book.”
KanyiDaily recalls tgat yesterday, Ogun State Police Command refuted reports that the home of Wole Soyinka was attacked by suspected herdsmen.
The police said contrary to the viral reports, the herdsmen invasion was triggered by a cow that strayed into the vicinity of Mr Soyinka’s home.