Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, is a Yoruba Nation activist who has accused certain politicians of supporting the kidnappers who are kidnapping pupils in Oyo State. If the attacks persist, Sunday Adeyemo has promised to expose those guilty.
Speaking on Wednesday at his home in the Soka neighbourhood of Ibadan to newly elected executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by Akinteye Babatunde, Igboho asserted that he has information about people who fund criminal organisations that operate in various parts of the state.
In a video that Wisdom TV posted online, the activist said that he had offered to help flush the kidnappers out of their hiding places but that the Oyo State Government had stopped him from doing so.
He said that if local vigilante groups and security personnel were permitted to chase the kidnappers into forest camps, they could be vanquished.
“I know the politicians behind them, and if they do not stop perpetrating their evil acts, I will mention them all. The politicians behind them are the ones giving them ammunition and money,” he said.
Igboho further claimed that certain political figures were purposefully causing unrest in order to weaken President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“The same thing they did to Jonathan is what they are doing to Tinubu. They want to make the country ungovernable for him. They use propaganda and fake news to discourage supporters of the President,” he stated.
The activist also refuted claims that prior to taking part in rescue efforts, he demanded remuneration from Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.
He said he was told by state authorities that if he tried to personally intervene, the kidnappers would kill the kidnapped children.
“Later, they told me the kidnappers warned that if I forced my way into the operation, they would kill all the children. If they truly want these victims rescued, they should allow my men and me to drive the criminals out of the forests,” he said.
Igboho further stated that the state government reportedly limited the activities of his proposed security organization, the “Iru Ekun Security Network,” even after it was approved by the federal government.
The dispute stems from reports that at least 45 students were kidnapped on May 15 during coordinated attacks on three schools in Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area.
Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School in Esiele, and L.A. Primary School were among the impacted establishments.
Security authorities reportedly increased operations along forest corridors connecting Oriire towns and the Old Oyo National Park area as a result of the event, which raised security fears throughout the state.
Elizabeth Olagoke, a teacher at Baptist Nursery and Primary School, had previously revealed that the attackers used Pidgin English, Hausa, and Yoruba to converse during the attack.
After one of the kidnapped teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was allegedly slain by the abductors, tensions increased and requests for more robust security measures and quick action to ensure the release of the remaining captives were raised.
Igboho has persisted in pushing for the deployment of his Iru Ekun Security Network in the face of mounting public disquiet, claiming the group can aid in the fight against criminal groups operating in South-West forests.
Watch the video below;