Solidarity Protests in South-west over Amotekun
Segun James in Lagos, Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan, Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo, Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti, Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta and James Sowole in Akure
He described the National Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Alhassan Saleh, as an arrogant miscreant over his outbursts against the South-west governors on a television programme earlier yesterday. In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the solidarity walk was held at the Remembrance Arcade, opposite Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, amidst tight security.
Inscriptions on some of the placards read, “Yoruba Omo Oodua: Protect Yourself, Amotekun;” “On Amotekun we stand;” “We want to know who owns the Land” and “No Amotekun, No Hisbah” among others. He faulted the calls by critics of Amotekun that the South-west region might lose its presidential bid if it didn’t back down on going ahead with the security initiative, stating that Nigeria belongs to everybody and not only any particular group or interest.
Also, hundreds of Ondo State residents yesterday stormed the streets of Akure, the state capital, in support of Amotekun. Also, the Chairman of the solidarity walk, Mr. Toyin Ogunlakaka, said the support for Amotekun should not be seen as a sign of the Yoruba being against the federal government, adding that they are against Malami’s declaration of Amotekun as being illegal.
The residents, who were chanting solidarity songs, marched from Nelson Mandela Freedom Park through Okefia down to Oja Oba all in Osogbo metropolis. He said: “The South-western part has been known to be the most peaceful part of Nigeria for generations and we have discovered that that peace is being cut short by some calculated efforts by brigands and all sorts of negative powers. So that’s why we have to bring all that to a stop.”
“It is sad that our people were being killed and kidnapped and many of these carnages were without arrests. We are daily in fear of being killed and these and many more are the reasons for the formation of Amotekun. The leaders of Agbekoya and Vigilance Group of Nigeria, Chief Sunday Omoyajowo, lauded the Yoruba for maintaining a united front about Amotekun, adding that nothing will change their stand.
In Ogun State, the police led other security organisations such as the DSS, NSCDC and FRSC to monitor the rally, which was held in Abeokuta, the state’s capital. The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kenneth Ebrimson, led the security team. “I am on routine visit: everyday, I go round the metro to ensure that everywhere is calm but I got intelligence reports that some groups, yet to be identified, are trying to protest or do rally and I just came around to talk to my men and place them on the alert to ensure that there is no breach of peace.
Chairman of Oodua United People’s Association, Bello, said, Amotekun was launched to check the excesses of criminals in the region. Addressing the journalists around the venue, the Director of Media and Communication of YWC, Mr. Mathew Adeleye, expressed sadness over the development, saying that the denial by the police to use the Gani Fawehinmi Park for the protest came to them as a surprise as approval had earlier been granted by the Area Commander confirming the use of the venue by the group.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Amotekun: South South govs unable to meet, explore optionsSouth-South at the moment, unable to hold a meeting to take a joint decision on the setting up of a regional security outfit like Amotekun
Read more »
PHOTOS: South West Youths, Local Hunters, Others Rally In Support Of AmotekunPHOTOS: South West Youths, Local Hunters, Others Rally In Support Of Amotekun
Read more »
Operation Amotekun: Presidency, govs’ meeting called off, South-West holds rallies
Read more »
Amotekun: We won't succumb to blackmail — South West govsABUJA— THE Six South West governors, weekend, declared that they will not 'capitulate to blackmail' from within or outside the region, and
Read more »
2023: Give us presidency, Igbos want Biafra - South-South elders - Daily Post NigeriaThe South-South Elders' Forum has declared that the 2023 presidency should be ceded to the zone to avert crisis. The Elders said giving 2023 presidency to
Read more »
2023 presidency: Biafra group issues strong warning to South-South elders - Daily Post NigeriaThe Biafra Nations Youth League, BNYL, has described the agitation for South-South Presidency 2023 as baseless. Recall that the Pan Niger Delta Forum,
Read more »