Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has alleged that some politicians are connected to the abduction of pupils in Oyo State, warning that he may publicly identify them if the attacks continue.
Igboho made the claim on Wednesday while addressing newly elected executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by Akinteye Babatunde, at his residence in the Soka area of Ibadan.
In a video of the meeting that has since circulated online, the activist insisted that he was ready to confront the kidnappers but was prevented from doing so by the state government.
According to him, he never requested financial support from the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde to secure the release of the abducted children.
“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,” he said.
Igboho further alleged that certain individuals were deliberately working to destabilise the administration of President Bola Tinubu through insecurity and misinformation.
“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,” he stated.
Referring to the recent school abduction in Oyo State, the activist said he volunteered to assist in rescue efforts but claimed the state government declined his offer.
“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’,” he said.
He also claimed that government officials later informed him that the kidnappers had threatened to kill the victims if he attempted a rescue operation.
“Later, they 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,” he added.
The activist also revisited his proposed security outfit, Iru Ekun, saying that although he received federal approval for the initiative, he was discouraged from deploying it in Oyo State.
“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?” he said.
Questioning what he described as attempts to undermine Tinubu’s administration, Igboho noted that former President Muhammadu Buhari completed his tenure despite criticism and insecurity challenges.
“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?” he asked.
The comments come weeks after armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, abducting dozens of pupils.
The affected schools included Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School.