‘We can rescue kidnapped victims, but’ – Traditionalists

Image caption: Chief Moshood Kehinde Ege, Oluode Ibadan (left) and Chief Adebayo Amos Abiade Oluode Onpetu Ogbomoso South

‘We can rescue kidnapped victims, but’ – Traditionalists

Yinka ADETUNJI

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Traditional hunters have declared that the security emergency in the Old Oyo National Park arising from the bandits’ attack on three communities in Oriire local government last Friday is within their powers to relieve.

However, they complained they are never consulted and that government has never at any time recognized them.

They lamented the abduction of the children and teachers at the Oriire communities, saying it was most unfortunate.

This declaration was made by the Oluode of Ibadanland Chief Moshood Kehinde Ege (the Ajagunna of Yorubaland) and leader of the group in Oyo state as well as the Oluode of Onpetu in Ogbomoso South local government, Chief Adebayo Amos Abiade, in a joint statement.

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“It is unfortunate our children and teachers who shape our lives are being held captive, what is more pathetic is that the security agents have located their base but are unable to make the final push of the rescue operation. So, the mission is not yet complete,” they declared.

“Traditionalists particularly hunters, real hunters, are capable of dislodging the bandits and bring the captives unharmed or with minimal harm but government did not invite us and if we venture out when you are not asked to assist you could end up in trouble.

“Though we allowed our (junior) members to join the rescue team, it is out of duty, we just allowed that for humanity’s sake. But let it be known that it was our members, because they are conversant with the forest paths, that led the soldiers and other security agents to uncover the base of the criminals, where the abductees are kept and not any conventional security operative. Our boys showed them the way.

“If we are consulted, we know how to dislodge the bandits, it is our specialty but no one has reached out to us and if we venture out just like that, we would become fugitives of the law. We all know what happened to Chief Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a. Igboho.

“We have been crying over the looming danger for some time now but government has been lackadaisical, now the problem has ensued. We pleaded and pleaded for assistance but to no avail. We need patrol vehicles, motorcycles and so on but these were not forthcoming. They recruited some people recently to serve in a government’s local security squad but our members were denied opportunity, rather they recruited politicians, and our members were ignored. Politicians give out motorcycles, vehicles in the name of empowerment but no one ever remembers us.

“Even in the ongoing rescue operation, when our members want to join security patrol team headed for the National Park, most times they would say the vehicle is full, we are often treated with disdain. Who will fuel our vehicles? These are the things the public do not know, but now that there is a problem people are calling us to rise to the occasion but we are wary and careful so that they don’t say we have run afoul of the law.

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“Imagine when our members strap their guns to their shoulders wile going to work, they are often victimized by the police. If they invite us, we will dislodge the bandits and flush them out of our area. The traditional hunters throughout Oyo state are eager to join the rescue team but they need to invite us and support us. In schools, they need to recruit traditional hunters but they are employing unqualified people.”

In similar vein, a leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Ogbomoso (names withheld) told ogbomosoinsightonline.com during a telephone chat that “It will take traditionalists like them little efforts to render the bandits powerless but we are not invited. And in Nigeria, if you volunteer to help, they might say ‘who invited you?’ And you become a target of security agents, seeking your arrest. Those are the problems. It is very unfortunate. Moreover, when OPC engages in an expedition it is joint efforts our members will join from all over Yorubaland.”