Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has threatened to expose politicians he alleged are behind the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Igboho made the allegation on Wednesday while receiving newly elected executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students, led by Akinteye Babatunde, at his residence in the Soka area of Ibadan.
In a trending video captured by Wisdom TV, Igboho claimed that some politicians were sponsoring the kidnappers by providing them with money and ammunition.
According to him, he knows those behind the abductions and will mention their names if they do not stop their alleged activities.
“If I am permitted to burst into the hideouts, they will flee. They are neither gnomes nor mannequins; they are humans, so they can be dislodged,” he said.
“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.”
Igboho also alleged that the insecurity was part of a wider plot to destabilise President Bola Tinubu’s administration, comparing it to what he said happened during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The same thing they did to Jonathan is what they are doing to Tinubu. They want to make the country ungovernable for him,” he said.
He accused those behind the insecurity of using propaganda and fake news to frighten citizens and weaken support for the President.
Igboho further claimed that he had volunteered to lead efforts to rescue the abducted pupils and teachers but was prevented by the Oyo State Government.
According to him, the state government later informed him that the kidnappers had threatened to kill the victims if he attempted to forcefully intervene.
“In Oyo, they made away with children. I volunteered to go, but the state government said ‘No,’” he said.
“Later, they informed me that the kidnappers said if I try to force myself to come rescue the children, they will kill them all.”
He insisted that his men could dislodge the criminals from the forests if given official clearance.
“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,” he said.
Igboho also said his security outfit, known as Iru Ekun Security Network, had received approval from the Federal Government, but alleged that the Oyo State Government stopped the group from operating in the rescue effort.
“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,” he said.
He said his concern was for the abducted pupils and teachers, adding that he had no personal fear of being kidnapped.
“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?” he said.
Igboho also questioned why some people were allegedly trying to frustrate Tinubu’s administration, saying the President assisted him when he was in exile.
