Forum to militants: enough

The Southwest will no longer fold its arms while suspected Niger Delta militants  kill and disrupt economic activities in the region, a socio-cultural group, the Yoruba Unity Forum has said.

The group also called on the Federal Government to probe motive behind the attack by suspected militants on several Ikorodu communities in Lagos.

“The Southwest will not tolerate nationalities to turn our land to a theatre to prosecute their agitations, we shall certainly not fold our arms and watch criminals kill our people and disrupt economic activities,” the group said in a statement by its Chairman Rev. Emmanuel Gbonigi and Secretary, Senator Anthony Adefuye.

 The group noted that the Southwest people are peaceful and accommodating as exemplified by the absence of border disputes with their neighbouring communities. It said the Niger Delta militants have taken their agitations too far by unprovoked attacks on Yoruba communities which led to the death of about 100 deaths.

“Furthermore, not done with the attacks on defenceless citizens of Ikorodu, they proceeded to attack the convoy of the Ogun State Deputy Governor who was on her way to visit the communities. While we hold no grudge against any nationality pursuing their agitations, we take very serious exceptions to nationalities exporting criminality and violence to achieve their objectives.

“ The attack on the Deputy Governor of Ogun State  and her entourage is provocative and daring, we call on the Federal Government to immediately deploy soldiers in these areas to protect the people as the police alone cannot contain the criminal activities of the militants,” the group said.

The group also questioned the role of the security agencies which it described as questionable and asked to government to arrest and prosecute all persons involved in the attacks including the sponsors.