Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader popularly known as Sunday Igboho, says Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, knows that he can rescue the schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire LGA.
Igboho spoke on Wednesday when Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led a delegation to his residence.
Igboho said the uptick in insecurity in the country is a “game” being played by politicians.
The youth leader said the terrorists who kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire LGA are being backed by members of the political class.
He added that he will soon reveal the names of politicians supporting the terrorists.
Igboho said himself and his team have the power to fiercely face the kidnappers in the forest if given the permission to do so.
“What happened here (referring to the abduction in Oriire), I have met with the minister of defence. We spoke and I told him that they should give me permission to enter the forest,” Igboho said in Yoruba.
“I’m boasting, I can tackle these kidnappers. I swear by my creator, they (kidnappers) will run away.
“They are not evil spirits. They are humans. Some politicians are backing them. I have said that if the politicians supporting them don’t stop, I will mention their names.”
‘MAKINDE DID NOT APPROVE MY SECURITY OUTFIT’
Igboho added that the Oyo governor did not give his team permission to enter the forest to confront the kidnappers.
The youth leader said after he unveiled his security outfit named ‘Iru Ekun Security Network’, Makinde announced an executive order declaring that groups offering security-related services in the state must seek approval.
Igboho questioned why the approval is necessary.
“I told them that I have volunteered myself and my team to face the terrorists in the bush. They said we should be patient. How long are we going to exercise patience?” he asked.
“The governor knows that I have the capacity to do something about it (referring to the abduction of Oriire schoolchildren). Why is he not allowing me to face them?
“I arranged the Iru Ekun Security Network and the federal government approved it. As I was announcing the security outfit, the state government immediately said every security outfit must seek approval before doing anything. Should he (Makinde) have said that?
“We said we can face the kidnappers, do we need any approval?”
On May 15, gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire LGA, abducting about 39 students and seven teachers.
The crisis escalated days later when Michael Oyedokun, one of the abducted teachers, was killed by the terrorists.
