Agbekoya Solidarity Movement president Bankole Ahmed says his 35,000-strong force can rid the South-West of terrorists within a month — but only if the government stops ignoring their repeated offers and provides weapons, transport, and operational backing.
Here’s a bold claim that deserves serious attention: Nigeria may already have the manpower to crush South-West terrorism — the problem is nobody’s picking up the phone.
Bankole Ahmed, president of the Agbekoya Solidarity Movement of Nigeria, says his organisation has written multiple letters to state governments offering to help tackle insecurity — and received nothing back. “We have over 35,000 men across 10 states,” he told PUNCH. “These are capable and experienced individuals who can operate effectively both on land and in difficult terrains.”
The frustration is palpable. While schoolchildren are abducted and ransom demands of up to N100 million pile up, a battle-ready traditional force is sitting idle — not from lack of will, but lack of official invitation.
“Let the government bring all hunters together, deploy us into the forests, and we will flush these criminals out of the South-West. We are Yoruba; we understand the terrain and know what to do once we enter the forest.”
Ahmed isn’t dismissing the challenge either. “These criminals carry AK-47 rifles and sophisticated weapons, while many of us rely on dane guns,” he admitted — making the case for logistical support even stronger.
His ask is actually pretty straightforward: “We need logistics — weapons, transportation and feeding. If properly supported, within one month we can complete the job. These terrorists are not invisible; they are human beings like us. Let us meet them in the field and see who prevails.”
The South-West is bleeding. The question is why governments keep looking elsewhere when the answer might already be knocking at their door.
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