Insecurity: We’ll Take Up Arms To Defend Ourselves, Ogbomoso Residents Dare FG

IBADAN — Residents of Ogbomoso zone in Oyo State, yesterday, trooped out en-mass to protest the incessant kidnapping and killing in the area, vowing to take up arms to defend themselves if the Federal Government and relevant agencies, saddled with the responsibilities of securing their lives and property, fail to curb the menace.

This came on a day the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, expressed serious worries and consternation about the level of insecurity in Nigeria and wondered if President Muhammadu Buhari is aware of the situation at all.

But the Nigerian Army, yesterday, restated that constant training of its men and officers is imperative towards combating the insecurity challenges currently bedevilling the country.

The protest, led by the Ogbomoso Consultative Council and Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum, took off from Takie Square, with different inscriptions such as ‘May God console the families of Gbenga Owolabi, Rachael Opadele and Idowu Ajagbe killed by kidnappers; Allow us to defend ourselves; Come to our rescue before we start self-defence; The last kidnapping must be the last as well as Kidnapping: We must not continue like this,’ moved round the town and later converged at Soun Ogunlola Hall.

Traditionalists, members of Odu’a People’s Congress, OPC, Agbekoya, Amotekun, Vigilante and other groups, who spoke at the rally, said they were ready to give it whatever it takes to stop the criminal activities in Ogbomoso and its environs.

They, therefore, assured the residents that necessary steps have been taken on the matter and urged them to cooperate with all indigenous security outfits in their efforts to combat crimes in the region.

They also urged the residents to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement to the appropriate authorities.

Addressing the crowd, the President, Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum, Peter Olaleye, said: “Our ancestors were brave and bold, they were never conquered by any war, not even the dreaded Fulani war. We will never allow any intruder to take over our land, enough is enough.”