A group, the Yoruba Appraisal Forum, YAF, has called on all perpetrators of violence in the South-West region of Nigeria and their sponsors to desist or face sanctions.
The YAF National Coordinator, Mr Adeshina Animashaun, in a press statement accused such perpetrators of violence of having a more sinister plan aimed at destabilising Nigeria.
“We want to state that we are aware that those behind the recent violence in different parts of the South-West have a more sinister objective of destabilising the Nigerian nation for the selfish political end of their sponsors and paymasters. They are only merely covering up their agenda with the cloak of fighting for Yoruba freedom and self-determination.
“Intelligence reports at our disposal have indicated that the masterminds of this violence are bent on throwing Nigeria into total chaos to hasten the collapse of governments at both the state and federal levels to enable them to execute their evil plans for Nigeria,” he said.
Mr Animashaun further accused them of taking advantage of the security challenges and ethnic distrust among Nigerians.
“They are planning to take advantage of the current security challenges in the country to wreak further havoc, starting with the South-West and expecting to instigate reprisals against Southerners in the North with the ultimate objective of destabilising the country.
“We have it on good authority that they have begun to mobilise youths in the region for more violent protests and bloody confrontation with government and security agents, all in their bid to raise tension and create the violent atmosphere for them to take over the properties of non-Yoruba living in the South-West, especially those of the Igbo and Hausa/ Fulani. Their current ethnic profiling of Northerners and campaigns of calumny against Nigerians of the Fulani ethnic stock are aimed at achieving their evil plans,” he said.
He called on security agencies to unveil and deal decisively with them and their sponsors.
“We, therefore, urge the police authorities to take appropriate and urgent steps to deal decisively with these elements who are bent on fomenting trouble in the South-West.
“The police and other security agencies should not mind the disguised antics and plans of these shameless and unpatriotic self-styled freedom fighters. It is imperative the police and other security agencies take appropriate actions against them to nip their evil plans in the bud.
“On our own part as YAF members, we want to once again warn sternly that we won’t allow any group or individuals to turn the South-West into a theatre of war. Any Yoruba who has collected money from both local and foreign forces to destabilise the South-West should retrace their steps to avoid the doom awaiting them.
“Those self-styled Yoruba freedom fighters creating tension by engaging in ethnic profiling and evil propaganda against Nigerians of other ethnic stock living in the South-West should desist. We are already aware of their sinister plans and we have already communicated same to the relevant security agencies for appropriate action in order to save Yorubaland from unnecessary and avoidable violence and chaos,” he said.
Zainab Sa’id
