Yoruba elders stand against militant groups

Yoruba elders under the aegis of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) have reacted to the recent attacks by Niger Delta militants in the south west region and warned that the senseless attacks must stop.

There have been spates of attack from gunmen suspected to be militants who reportedly gained entrance into Lagos through the waterways from the Niger Delta creeks.


The most recent attack was in Ikorodu where about 30 people reportedly died after the militants invaded the community.

Vanguard reports that the Yoruba socio-cultural group decried the activities of Fulani herdsmen, militants and kidnappers who have conducted attacks in Yorubaland.

In a statement jointly signed by Rt Rev Emmanuel Gbonigi and Senator Anthony Adefuye who are the chairman and secretary respectively, they Yoruba elders said the recent attacks threatened the “peace stability and corporate existence of the country.”

They said they would not watch the south west region become a theatre of violence and warned that the militants would not go unpunished.

"Nigeria is at, the precipice, threats of insecurity to life and property is no longer the exclusive preserve of any particular community. The peace and quiet in the South-west in the last few weeks has again come under attack in spite of the ongoing criminal activities of armed Fulani herdsmen in the region."


‘’The attacks this time is coming from an unlikely foe, the Niger Delta Militants. The despicable criminality by this group against innocent citizens of Igbolomu and Ishawo areas of Ikorodu In Lagos shall not go unpunished. The South-west, people are peaceful, accommodating, hospitable, and are gratified neighbours.”

Also, militants from the Niger Delta region reportedly invaded a community in Ogun state because they were being flushed out in their region. The militants raided Imushin community, Ogijo area of Ogun state, in the late hours of June 17, killing at least 15 residents.