Sunday Adeyemo popularly called Sunday Igboho has declared that he has no intention of leading the Oyo State Security Network (codename Amotekun) as claimed in some quarters.
Adeyemo who stated this on Tuesday during a live interview programmed hosted by Dele Momodu on Instagram vowed that he won’t rest until all Fulani herdsmen vacate all sections of Yoruba land.
The interview was held on the heels of the vacation order issued to herdsmen who have been reported to have continued to rape, maim, kidnap and kill innocent citizens in some sections of the country including Oyo State.
When asked about insinuations that decisions made so far were antics to become the leader of Amotekun, Adeyemo said: “I am not interested in leading Amotekun, I am not interested. I heard them but I am not interested. I am not a vigilante, hunter or security guard. Why would you be enticing me with that rubbish? I am talking about ridding the land of kidnapping herdsmen. I am still on that.”
He added: “The sufferings we endure from the hands of these Fulani men are too much. They have continued to kill our brothers and sisters, our fathers and mothers.
“And the government is not providing adequate security for us, we have to face them to say this is enough, that we want to be our own security. And it has now been turned into a controversy, but if we do not get to where we are going, we won’t stop.”
When asked if he hopes to merge with the corps led by Nnamdi Kanu in the South-East, he said “I don’t know him and I’ve never met him. My grouse is with Fulani herdsmen who rape and kill in Yorubaland and they must leave. Should we go to their land to go and kidnap them? We don’t have that right. This is our own fatherland.”
Speaking further on the developments that led to the agitation for the eviction of Fulanis in Yoruba land: “The issue in Ibarapa has been one for about a year. Many people have been killed there including Fatai Oko Oloyun. The government only promised but the suspects have not been brought to justice. The family was thrown into mourning by these herdsmen. The same thing happened with Dr Aborode who established a farm here.
“Crops on the farm were eaten and destroyed by cattle and he approached the Seriki Fulani who is the head of the Fulanis, he was accosted, beaten and killed.
“Another female filling station owner in Ibarapa and these Fulanis cried out for help when she was about to be kidnapped and he was killed on the spot. There are so many people in that area and they kidnapped so many people who paid at least N7 million for their release.
“The prince of Igangan as also kidnapped recently and the traditional ruler paid the ransom for his release and the government didn’t do anything.
“The people there who are predominantly farmers can’t go to the farms anymore because the women are being raped on their way to and from the farm. And over there, we sleep outside before now but now the trouble has been so much.
“But I went there to investigate from the leaders there. They sought my help to rid of these criminalities. The people joined me and we told the Fulanis they must leave this place.
“This Seriki Fulani, Saliu, was the intermediary between the community and the kidnappers. So, he knows who the criminals are. We had to warn him but they can’t go to him alone because he would kill them and he has about three roadblocks before anyone can get to his house.
“While I was there asking him how these criminalities happen in the area. He didn’t listen to me, he was on the phone talking to the DC. I collected the phone and was about to speak with the Dc when one of Seriki’s boys brought out a gun but my men disarmed him. Another Fulani also shot a gun close to the Seriki’s palace where we were. The Seriki said it was a mistake. The range of cars I met at Seriki’s abode is numerous.
“When I got back to Ibadan, there were many threats made to me, saying I had no rights to issue an eviction notice to Fulanis. Instead of revealing the suspects, he said the criminals are some Bororo men. My people told me they were threatened before the expiration of the ultimatum.
“On the day the ultimatum expired, there numerous military vehicles in Ibarapa there. This shows this government is wicked. If they had given the people of Ibarapa this kind of security, then the criminals would have left Ibarapa.
“I asked the Area Commander at Eruwa to go with me and I told the commissioner of police I was going to Ibarapa not to go and fight. I had to fulfil the promise I made to my people that I will be in Ibarapa. After I left, I heard some places were burned down, I don’t know about that.
“Then I heard the commissioner, the AIG, the governor said I should be arrested. What I have done? Why is Nigeria continuing to maltreat us like this? It shouldn’t get to this level.
“This morning, my brothers ran to this place from my old house around Soka, saying some people came to my house, brought down the gate and burned the house.”
