Greedy monarchs, community leaders aid kidnappers in S-West —Hunters

FOLLOWING the spike in kidnapping and killings in the South-West and other parts of the country, the Soludero Hunters, have blamed the menace on the greed and insensitivity of some traditional rulers and community leaders,adding that they are the architects of the problem.

The National President of the hunters, Oba Nureni Lasisi, who spoke with Vanguard in Ibadan, said their findings, after combing several forests within the zone, revealed that some greedy monarchs and community leaders are accommodating unknown foreigners in their domains because of pecuniary gains from the visitors without considering the safety of their subjects.

Akintola stressed that people should plead with the traditional rulers who are fond of collecting money and meat in exchange for lands to desist from doing so.

His words: "We have to plead with our kings and community leaders to consider the safety of their subjects more than any other thing. Some kings are the architects of the problem of kidnapping. Unknown visitors will come to their domains and instead of them to find out who they are; they will collect money and sell lands to strangers.

"These strangers are the ones troubling our people including the kings. No stranger can settle in a community without the approval of the community leader. They should be very careful so that they don't invite blood-sucking bandits to their communities."

He added that the reluctance of the local, state and federal governments to empower the hunters is hindering them in securing the zone.