~Ogbeni Olawale Dawodu
Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has threatened to publicly reveal the identities of politicians he claims are sponsoring kidnappers responsible for the abduction of students in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Igboho made the declaration on Wednesday while addressing newly elected executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by Akinteye Babatunde, at his residence in the Soka area of Ibadan.
In a video that has since gone viral, the activist alleged that some politicians were funding and arming criminal groups operating in the state and warned that he would expose them if they failed to halt their activities.
“I know the politicians behind them, and if they do not stop perpetrating their evil acts, I will mention them all. I know them,” Igboho said.
“The politicians behind them are the ones giving them ammunition and money.”
The activist maintained that he had volunteered to lead efforts to flush out the kidnappers from their forest hideouts but was prevented from doing so by the Oyo State Government.
According to him, the abductors were not invincible and could be driven out if security operatives and local vigilantes were allowed to confront them directly.
“If I am permitted to burst into the hideouts, they will flee. They are neither gnomes nor mannequins; they are humans, so they can be dislodged,” he stated.
Igboho also denied claims that he sought financial support from the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde to facilitate the rescue of the abducted students.
He further alleged that state authorities informed him that the kidnappers had threatened to kill the victims if he attempted to intervene.
“Later, they informed me that the kidnappers said if I try to force myself to come rescue the children, they will kill them all,” he said.
“If they are serious about rescuing the victims, they should tell my boys and me to chase them out of the forests and see if those people will remain there, even with their bombs and sophisticated weapons.”
The activist revealed that after obtaining federal approval for his security outfit, the Iru Ekun Security Network, he was still restricted from deploying the group in Oyo State.
“After I arranged the Iru Ekun Security Network, the Federal Government permitted me, but the state government said no security outfit must take a step behind them,” he said.
“I’m only concerned about these abductees. Nobody can kidnap me or my family because they are spread across Canada and Germany. Why should I fret?”
Igboho also linked the insecurity challenges to what he described as efforts by political actors to undermine 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,” he alleged.
“Why are they trying to stop a Yoruba man, Tinubu, from completing his tenure? It was Tinubu who freed me when I was in exile. Why should I tackle him?”
The remarks come amid growing tension following the reported abduction of at least 45 pupils during attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
The affected institutions include Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School.
Security agencies have since intensified operations around forest corridors and escape routes believed to have been used by the attackers, particularly in areas bordering the Old Oyo National Park.
Public outrage deepened after one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed by his captors, with a disturbing video allegedly showing his execution circulating online.
Against this backdrop, Igboho has renewed calls for the deployment of his Iru Ekun Security Network to combat criminal elements operating in forests across the South-West, while expressing willingness to comply with regulations governing private security outfits in Oyo State.
