Over recent weeks, armed militants and pipeline vandals have been attacking riverine and coastal communities in the two states, turning many villages into ghost towns. On June 27, Ogun State deputy governor Yetunde Onanuga was forced to flee when her convoy was attacked by a group of armed gunmen suspected to be militants operating in the riverine area of the state.
Otunba Adams, has, however expressed his organisation’s reluctance to engage the suspected militants even though some communities have been seeking the support of the OPC on the issue. Condemning the attacks and describing them as criminal, he added that he had to be sure that OPC members would not be criminalised for any actions taken.
According to Otunba Adams, the OPC had been demonised by people, including those of Yoruba descent, security agents and the media in the past. He added that he feared that if they took on the vandals, the same people would descend on the OPC, labelling them criminals and terrorists and arresting its members.
Otunba Adams said: “What happened just about 10 days ago in Ikorodu is highly unfortunate but people of Yoruba extraction are the only ones that play politics with their lives and properties. When you have a dog that is preventing criminals from coming to your house and you take it to the veterinary to remove its teeth, when criminals come to your house, what will the dog use to fight them?”
"Would law enforcement agencies not twist it against us again? We still have some of our members in Kirikiri and Ikoyi prisons on an issue related to securing a street after an armed robber was killed and the police twisted it as murder."
According to the OPC boss, if they take on the vandals, the law enforcement agents would use it against them. He also criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for condoling the recent victims of terrorism in Saudi Arabia and ignoring Nigerians recently killed by suspected militants and Fulani herdsmen in southwest Nigeria and Benue State.
“The president was sending his condolences to the people of Saudi Arabia. How many people died in Medina? Just less than 10.
"He sent his condolences to the United States after the attack in Orlando and he has never said anything about what happened in Ikorodu, Lagos State and Agatu, Benue State, where many people were killed. It is high time that the president knew that the life of a Nigerian is important and although I’m not saying that he should not sympathise with any other country but your citizens should come first,” Otunba Adams added.
Comments
Post a Comment