SOJI AJIBOLA, Ibadan
Over 500 youths from Ibarapa axis of Oyo State on Monday stormed the state secretariat, Agodi, demanding for an unconditional release of members of the Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC) that were being remanded in the prison by the court.
Also, the youths protested against the incessant killings of their people and destruction of their farms by the suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The protesters were armed with placards with various inscriptions denouncing killings, kidnappings, rape and massive destruction of farms and other atrocities allegedly being perpetrated by herdsmen.
They stormed the Governor’s Office around 10:40am to register their displeasure about security issues in the area.
The Convener of Igangan Development Advocates, Oladiran Oladokun, said the arraignment and remand of the three OPC members was a signal to many Nigerians that security agencies cannot be trusted.
He said Wakili terrorised the people for so long, adding that despite their refusal to arrest him, the OPC members and others risked their lives to arrest the septuagenarian herder but they were detained by the police on the same day.
“We are here to protest the arrest and remand of the three OPC members in prison. These men are heroes, they risked their lives to arrest Wakili who has terrorised the people of Kajola, Ayete and other villages.
“They went to Wakili’s place and arrested him but the police turned against them and detained them. This is a bad signal to Nigerians on security issues,” Oladokun said.
Recall that there is growing insecurity in the Ibarapa area where suspected Fulani herdsmen have killed, raped and kidnapped farmers and other residents.