Afenifere backs Igboho in anti-banditry fight

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization Afenifere has publicly defended Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo, known as Sunday Igboho, in his efforts to combat banditry and terrorism within Yorubaland.

Afenifere's National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, stated that Igboho is targeting individuals and groups engaged in terror acts, not any particular ethnic group. The organization emphasized that Igboho's actions to protect his people are appropriate and lawful.

This defense comes after several northern socio-cultural groups, including the Arewa Consultative Forum and the Northern Elders Forum, condemned Igboho's ultimatum to release kidnap victims and his strong words against Fulani communities involved in criminal activities. These groups had urged President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to caution Igboho.

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But some notable voices in the northern part of Nigeria, including Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Coalition of Northern Groups and Concerned Fulani People of Nigeria, condemned Sunday Igboho for the ultimatum and the strong words he had for unscrupulous Fulanis who engage in kidnapping and terror acts.

Igboho, through his spokesperson Olayomi Koiki, previously stated that his security advocacy in the South-West targets criminal elements, not any ethnic nationality. He argued that all Nigerians should collaborate to rid the nation of criminality.

Afenifere dismissed the calls for action against Igboho as blackmail, asserting that his conduct has not been violent or unlawful. "Since he (Igboho) was not violent in his action nor conduct himself in a manner that violates the laws of the land, calling on the authorities to deal with him borders on blackmail and an attempt to call a dog a bad name with a view to having it hanged. We in Afenifere stand by Sunday Igboho," the statement read.

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Since he (Igboho) was not violent in his action nor conduct himself in a manner that violates the laws of the land, calling on the authorities to deal with him borders on blackmail and an attempt to call a dog a bad name with a view to having it hanged. We in Afenifere stand by Sunday Igboho.