Yorubas in the Diaspora under the auspices of the Yoruba World Congress Worldwide (YWC) have called on the Federal Government to hunt down terrorists, including those “camouflaging as herdsmen, terrorists’ sympathisers and their advocates or financial negotiators.” The group described the recent collaboration between Nigeria and the United States against terrorism as a step in the right direction, commending the administration of President Bola Tinubu for improved intelligence sharing with the US. In a statement signed by its Vice President, Engineer Adekunle Ogundana; Secretary General, Engr Stephen Ajayi; and Mobilisation Director, J.P Ade, the group thanked US President Donald Trump for what it described as timely intervention in Nigeria’s security challenges.
Reacting to the reported destruction of terrorist camps and the neutralisation of ISIS elements in Sokoto, the group said the collaboration marked “the beginning and the foundation of peace in Nigeria and its borders.” It urged the government to prioritise the safety of citizens, particularly in Kogi, Kwara and Edo states, with specific reference to the Okun people of Kogi State, noting that “many of the towns/villages have since been deserted due to insecurity.” The group called for urgent attention to the Ilorin Mopa Kabba road, described as “a death trap,” requested increased security presence along the corridor, and urged the National Assembly to fast-track the creation of state police. “The Nigerian government should continue their full cooperation with foreign governments and international agencies… and to, with the strongest arm possible, hunt down all terrorist,” the statement added, while also demanding justice for displaced persons and the removal of illegal occupants from ancestral lands.