Attacks on Yorubaland: Ijaw 'militants' or terrorists?

Wife of kidnapped monarch, Oniba of Iba (left) receiving condolence.

 Lets call a spade what it is: the activities of Ijaw 'militants' in Yorubaland in recent times suggest that the media, in general, have been shying away from giving the criminals the right labels.

 Armed men who are neither security forces – recognized by law nor vigilante groups protecting communities - but who have been attacking, killing and kidnapping innocent Nigerians are not militants. They are terrorists.

 In less than two months, these terrorists have carried out attacks within Lagos and Ogun states that have led to several deaths, displacement of families and kidnaps of innocents Nigerians.

 Most embarrassing and insulting to the Yoruba race is the current attack on the people’s monarchy when alleged Ijaw terrorists kidnapped Oniba of Iba, Oba Yushau Oseni from his Lagos residence.

   

Almost daily, there were unpublished reports of kidnap of less privileged Nigerians by the suspected Ijaw terrorists, in Lagos and Ogun States. For example, few days ago, a caller reported to Radio Continental during phone-in-programme of newspaper review in the morning, reported invasion of his residence by armed Ijaw men who later kidnapped two children. The next day, the same caller called the radio station to disclosed that the two children have been released with the assistance of military men after the community parted with N20,000 naira.  

Here are few of some published reports: Militants kidnap man, 30, two days after relocating to Lagos

http://punchng.com/militants-kidnap-man-30-two-days-relocating-lagos/

How Lagos monarch was kidnapped— wife
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/lagos-monarch-kidnapped-wife/

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/lagos-monarch-kidnapped-wife/.

MILITANTS INVADE LAGOS, OGUN COMMUNITIES… KILL OVER 3Ohttp://sunnewsonline.com/militants-invade-lagos-ogun-communities-kill-over-3o/

Ikorodu attacks: We’re not ready to return home — Victims
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/ikorodu-attacks-not-ready-return-home-victims/

Ijaw militants attack on Lagos-Ogun: Afenifere, Yoruba leaders' complicity, conspiracy

Recent attacks by suspected Ijaw militants against Lagos-Ogun communities may not be unconnected to the political divides among Yoruba leaders.

  

Chief Ayo Adebanjo

 With the leadership of Afenifere clearly displaying its romance with Niger Delta leaders, specifically, the Ijaws against mainstream political class in Lagos axis, in the past few years, the militants wing of the Ijaw people appears to have perceived Lagos, specifically, Ikorodu, as enemy territory.

  
Affected communities of the Lagos-Ogun attacks have consistently stated that Ijaw militants were the killers of Yoruba in the last few months on Yoruba soils.

New Eko Dun therefore suggests that the immediate solution to the crisis is a joint Vigilante (from the affected communities) and Nigerian security force efforts to stop the Ijaw militants. Rhetoric and partisan approach of Afenifere and other so-called Yoruba leaders approach cannot proffer solution. From all indications, Afenifere leaders and some other Yoruba groups have been defending Ijaw militants. 

For example, it was not surprising when a group of 'Yoruba leaders', few weeks ago, including Chief Ayo Adebanjo met with some Ijaw leaders in Lagos without any words from the hosts condemning the activities of the Ijaw militants. Reports monitored after the attacks on Ikorodu quoted a joint communiqué defending Ijaw militants. Signed by Chief Adebanjo and and Chief Albert K. Horsfall, leader of the Ijaw delegation, the communiqué stated: “The recent cases of militant attacks in Ikorodu and other places linked by the police to the militants of Ijaw extradition are quite unfortunate. The meeting rejects the Ogun State police Commissioner’s account and therefore requests the police to furnish the public with convincing details of the people that carried out the attacks including their names. This issue should not, however, be allowed to fuel discord and communal violence between the Yoruba and Ijaw nations.”

While the communiqué added the voice of the leaders to the ongoing call for restructuring of the country, it clearly defended the ijaw militants. This posture of the Yoruba leaders led by Chief Adebanjo was clearly saying that while Nigerians were/are waiting for restructuring of the country, the Ijaw militants who have been killing Yoruba people on their soil can go ahead.

Still avoiding calling a spade what it is, another Afenifere leader, Yinka Odumaking, few days ago, during another meeting with Ijaw leaders refused to indict Ijaw militants over the Lagos-Ogun killings. Under another group, Yoruba Unity Forum, Odumakin explained that the only way out of situation was for government to consider the option of state and community policing to deal with all kinds of crimes, arguing that the ‘federal police’ had failed in this regard.

He said, “The consensus we have reached here today is that the perpetrators of the nefarious acts are criminal elements, who are going about disturbing the peace and killing people.”

Again, as we wait for structuring, state police and the other components of true federalism, should Yoruba people be exposed to rampaging Ijaw militants? These so-called Yoruba leaders have failed their people.