Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has said his campaign for improved security in the South-West and other parts of Nigeria is targeted only at criminals and not any ethnic nationality.
Igboho stated this on Monday while responding to the Concerned Fulani People of Nigeria, which had called on President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to caution him over his comments on insecurity in the region.
Naijaonpoint reports that in a statement issued through his spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, the activist dismissed the group’s position as a deliberate misrepresentation of his stance on security.
He said the attempt to portray his advocacy as ethnic profiling was a distraction from the urgent need to address kidnapping, banditry, rape, killings and violent attacks in communities.
Igboho said his position had always been that criminal elements should be identified, arrested and prosecuted, regardless of their ethnic, religious or political background.
“It is obvious that since my agitation for improved security in the South-West and other parts of the country, I have never declared war against any ethnic group but have consistently voiced my position against criminal elements responsible for kidnapping, vicious killings, rape and violent attacks across Yoruba communities,” the statement read.
He described the call by the group as “myopic, uninformed and ridiculous,” insisting that his concern remained the protection of lives and the preservation of peace, security and justice.
“Our concern and primary focus have always been the protection of innocent lives and the preservation of peace, security and justice,” he added.
The activist further said it was wrong to interpret reactions to security breaches in the South-West as attacks on any ethnic group.
“We will never advocate hatred against any ethnic group. Our position has always been very clear: criminals should be identified, arrested and prosecuted by the law enforcement agencies regardless of their ethnic, religious and political inclinations because crime has no colour or race,” Igboho stated.
He added, “It is absolutely wrong and misleading to portray our reaction to security breaches in the South-West as ethnic profiling when the rights to life, freedom and economic livelihoods of our people are being threatened by mindless hoodlums who are obsessed with gruesome killings and kidnapping of innocent people in rural communities.”
Igboho maintained that insecurity remained a national concern that required collective action from citizens, communities and security institutions.
He commended the leadership of the country’s security agencies for intensifying efforts against criminal networks in the South-West and other parts of Nigeria.
“I want to specifically commend the noble efforts of the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and heads of other security agencies for their sustained onslaught against criminals in the South-West and other parts of the nation,” he said.
Igboho said he would continue to support lawful efforts aimed at strengthening peace and safety in South-West communities.
“While we would not hesitate to collaborate with security agencies in order to strengthen peace and safety in our communities in the South-West, the collective task of ensuring a secure environment in our society should not be left to the government and stakeholders in the security sector alone,” the statement added.
He urged individuals and groups calling on the government to caution him to instead support stronger measures against criminal syndicates.
According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges can only be overcome through unity, effective law enforcement and a collective resolve to confront criminality wherever it occurs.
He reiterated that criminals must be dealt with according to the law, irrespective of their ethnic or religious identity.
