Yoruba nation agitators storm Idiroko, attempt to open border

SOME Yoruba nation agitators stormed Idiroko, in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State on weekend; and attempted to forcefully reopen the land border shut by the Federal Government.

Idiroko is a border town between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin in Ogun West Senatorial District.

The Federal Government had closed all land borders, including Idiroko, since 2019, and directed that all importations be done through the seaports.

In a viral video, the agitators were seen calling out security operatives, saying: “We are going to open this border.”  

The agitators were seen marching around, and some with banners bearing the Yoruba nation.

Chanting 'Yoruba nation, no going back', the agitators were also seen moving towards the border gate and then started destroying it.  

There were a few security personnel at the scene and the agitators could be heard calling to disarm them

Gun shots were heard but it was not clear if they were coming from the agitators.  

When contacted, the spokesman of the Nigeria Customs Service Ogun 1 Area Command, Hammed Oloyede, confirmed that some agitators were at Idiroko.

Oloyede noted that an Immigration officer was injured, but the situation was brought under control with assistance from other security agents

He said: “There was a demonstration by the Yoruba Nation on Saturday at the Idiroko border. They attacked an Immigration officer but their activities were eventually brought under control.

“The situation is calm and our officers and other security operatives are at their duty post at the border.”

Oloyede noted that the border remains closed as directed by the Federal Government.

1914 amalgamation created a lopsided union —YGC 

....Forms global group to push interests

A group, the Yoruba Global Council, YGC, yesterday, faulted the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria, noting that it created a lopsided union.

In a statement by its spokesman, Chair of the Department of Political Studies and International Relations, North West University in South Africa, Professor Lere Amusan, the YGC said it was committed to the rebirth of a new Nigeria, where there “is equity, fairplay and ample respect for human dignity and self-worth.”

The YGC said it was coming as a child of necessity to rejuvenate the Yoruba race to the track of laudable past of rich culture, robust economy and decency

The statement read: “The Yoruba Global Council was conceived after a thorough review of our antecedents, our travails, our plight and what the future portends for us as Oduduwa descendants of the Yoruba race, in the present-day Nigeria. Ours is a child of necessity on a rescue mission at a time like this, when tradition, custom, culture, heritage and values are fast developing wings for a flight to possible oblivion.

“YGC is born to be nurtured for the task to restoring sanity to a race that is fast on the lane to depletion, owing to lack of due consciousness and the needed cohesion to bound us together as a people with common destiny.

“We put this group together to assert our rights as a people and race within Nigeria and seek the good of our people, through peaceful means, while rejecting the lingering sovereignty dispute and the operation of the imposed, unitary constitutional arrangements of Nigeria, in assertion of our inalienable right to fair treatment in an egalitarian country of our dream.

“We are opposed to the flawed foundations laid in the 1914 Amalgamation of the Protectorates of Southern Nigeria with the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria, which created a lopsided union, locking the diverse peoples of Nigeria into one political union with little attention to how we cohabit without offending our cultural values and traditions.

“On this note, the YGC will readily align with any group with genuine crave to righting the wrongs for the rebirth of a new Nigeria where there is equity, fairplay and ample respect for human dignity and self-worth.”

INSECURITY: Amotekun to patrol S-West borders to fight crime 

CHAIRMAN of the Council of Amotekun Commanders in the South-West, Adetunji Adeyeye, yesterday, disclosed that the security outfit would engage in interstates border patrols in the region.

He said the destruction of farmlands by herders in Ondo State has greatly reduced, owing to enforcement of the ban on open grazing.

Adeyeye, who spoke in an interview in Akure, said: “The synergy expected among the South-West states would be enhanced so that a criminal that escaped from Ondo to Ekiti could be easily apprehended.

“Herders now offered money to farmers whose crops were destroyed unlike previously when they would walk away.

 “Being Chairman of the Council of Amotekun Commanders is a greater call to service.

“The Commanders of the various states in the South-West region met to deliberate on the way forward and they picked me as the Chairman.

“Fallout of the meeting is that we agreed on inter-border patrol of major highway and all the routes in our various states. 

“We intend to reduce armed robbery and kidnappings on the highways. We noticed kidnappings take place on bad spots on the road where motorists are expected to slow down. 

“We are to enforce the ban on open grazing. We apprehend herders daily.

“There is a reduction in the destruction of farmlands by herders in Ondo State. The awareness is open now that no herder can destroy people’s farm and go scot-free.”

Insecurity: Solution lies with Nigerians — Obasanjo

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said pressure has been mounting on him to proffer solutions to the security challenges facing the country, urging Nigerians to unite and combat the menace.

He said Nigerians have a role to play if security will be a thing of the past.

Obasanjo, who spoke during a surprise visit to the Ayangbunren of Ikorodu, Oba Adewale Sotobi, lamented the death of Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, who was shot dead in Imo State, Sunday.

Obasanjo also disclosed how the wife of one of his managers was kidnapped about three weeks ago. 

He said: “Insecurity is a major problem in Nigeria. Gulak was killed in Imo. He was my Special Assistant. A young man with a bright future has been shot dead. About three weeks ago, the wife of one of my managers was kidnapped.

"Insecurity is a major problem because it does not help us domestically or grow our investment. We cannot make progress under insecurity because it will limit the rate of investment.

“Before I go on, let me talk about Nigeria: Before I wrote the open letters, I had written some hidden letters which did not yield results and that was why I decided to write open letters. 

“There is a number of problems we have in Nigeria today and one of them is insecurity.

“The government of this country has tried its best and that is the best it can do as regards the security challenges. Unfortunately, we are all at the receiving end and many people have been asking me on what to do. 

“What can we do? I think all of you who are the timber and calibers of the nation should arrange on what to do. 

“We shouldn't fold our arms and continue to complain. We should try and help as much as we can. Let me say this, I am an incurable optimist of this nation. Among ourselves, we should learn how to talk to ourselves in a civilized manner. Let us respect ourselves and speak positively about the country.”

In his response, Oba Sotobi assured the former president that Ikorodu indigenes will contribute their quota towards ensuring security in the area.  

Fire guts Ladipo auto parts market in Mushin

PROPERTY worth millions of naira were destroyed in an inferno that gutted spare parts sales line at the Alapeju section of Ladipo Market, in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Similarly, a fire gutted a building, No. 36, Abeokuta Expressway, Cement bus stop in Dopemu, Lagos, razing the building to the ground.

It was, however, gathered that there was no death or injury recorded during the incident.

Director-General of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, and the Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, confirmed the incident.  

Oke-Osanyintolu said: “Upon arrival at the scene, agency responders discovered a single-storey building used for commercial purposes (selling of motor parts) was engulfed in flames. The cause of the inferno has not been identified as at the time of writing this report.”

Also addressing newsmen, Adeseye, narrated that the agency received a distress call at about 0731hrs on Sunday morning from 5, Rowland Street, Olateju, Ladipo Market, Mushin Lagos that a building was on fire.

She said: "Firefighting commenced with support from the Federal Fire Services and the Nigerian Police. The operation was concluded at 1.50 pm for stocktaking and identification of the cause of the fire. Investigations are ongoing." 

Culled from Vanguard