‘I know politicians behind Oyo school abductions’– Sunday Igboho claims he’s stopped from entering kidnappers’ hideouts

Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Igboho has threatened to expose politicians he alleges are backing kidnappers responsible for the abduction of students in Oyo State, while claiming he was prevented from participating in rescue efforts.

Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has threatened to reveal the identities of politicians he alleged are sponsoring kidnappers responsible for the abduction of students in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Igboho made the claims while addressing newly elected executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students led by Akinteye Bàbàtunde at his residence in the Soka area of Ibadan. In a video that has since circulated online, the activist alleged that some politicians were providing financial and logistical support to criminal groups operating in the region.

Speaking on the recent abduction of students, Igboho maintained that he had volunteered to assist in rescuing the victims but was prevented from doing so by the Oyo State Government. He also denied reports that he demanded money from the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene. “If I am permitted to burst into the hideouts, they will flee. They are neither gnomes nor mannequins; they are humans, so that they could be dislodged. I know the politicians behind them, and if they do not stop perpetrating their evil acts, I will mention them all. I know them. The politicians behind them are the ones giving them ammunition and money. The same thing they did to Jonathan is what they are doing to Tinubu. They want to make the country ungovernable for him. They even have fake news propaganda to scare the masses and divert supporters away from the President. Suppose the recent abduction is not a game. In Oyo, they made away with children. I volunteered to go, but the state government said ‘No.’”

The activist further claimed that government officials informed him that the kidnappers had threatened to kill the abducted children if he attempted any rescue operation. He also said his proposed security outfit, “Iru Ekun,” had received federal approval but was restricted from operating by the state government. “Later, they (Oyo government) informed me that the kidnappers said if I try to force myself to come rescue the children, they will kill them all. If they are serious about rescuing the victims, they should tell my boys and me to chase them out of the forests in our regions and see if those people will remain there even with their bombs and sophisticated weapons. After I arranged ‘Iru Ekun’ security network, the Federal Government permitted me, but the state government said no security must take a step behind them. Do we have to wait for him to flood the forests to rescue these children? I’m just concerned about these abductees; nobody can kidnap me, not even my family, because they are spread across Canada and Germany. Why should I fret? Despite how bad Buhari’s administration is, he completed his tenure. Why are they trying to stop a Yoruba man — Tinubu — from completing his? It was Tinubu who freed me when I was in exile. Why should I tackle him? And why are they trying to ruin his government?” Igboho queried.

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