Southwest Security Stakeholders Group (SSSG) has warned bandits and other bad elements to stay away from the Southwest region or face the wrath of the group.
Shortly after the emergency meeting held at Omole Phase 2, Ikeja on Friday, and in a statement jointly signed by the convener and the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams and the secretary, Alhaji Owolabi Amusat, the group said “there are feelings that bandits have perfected their plans to strike in Southwest”.
“In recent times, bandits have variously attacked North East, North West and North Central, leaving in its wake, disturbing scenes of terror, killings and destruction that are capable of destroying the sanctity of Nigeria”,
“On this note, the Southwest Security Stakeholders Group has considered it necessary to beef up security operations in our region and we charge the police and all other security outfits, across the region to remain vigilant in ensuring that the region is safe. Any attempt to invade the Southwest will bring about both economic and political doom”
The group, however, dismissed Shehu Gumi’s visit to Igboho town, saying the visit was an attempt to mock and undermine the efforts of the Yoruba activists and freedom fighters.
The group stated further that the Islamic cleric’s body language, utterances and that of his cohorts, Usman Yusuff, in Igboho town truly showed that he was behind the DSS attack on Igboho’s Soka home, and that part of the Yoruba territories have been conquered.
“Shehu Gumi is a Nigerian, he has a right to visit any part of the country but it shouldn’t be to the extent of being deliberately attacking Igboho’s ideology in his hometown.
“Such attempt is provocative, and can lead to crisis at it is in parts of the North. That was why it elicited various reactions. Gumi’s ideas are always at variance with the present reality in the country and I think it is better for him to desist from fanning the embers of discord in the country and the Southwest in particular”,
“SSSG is driven by the calls to ensure effective security across the Southwest. We are also keen on regionalism where each region will control the security architecture of their respective region.If Nigeria didn’t return to or go back to regionalism based on the true Federalism that we have in the past, there may be crisis and nobody should blame those agitating for self determination.
But as a group, we will not relent in the struggle to protect the South West and we are determined to partner with the police and other security agencies to combat crime and make the region safe for all and sundry”, the statement said.
