Beheading, Killing, Kidnapping In Yorubaland Will Not Be Tolerated, OPC Warns

The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has condemned what it called the avoidable kidnapping and killing of pupils and teachers in Oyo State, as well as similar incidents in other parts of Yorubaland.

The OPC President, Wasiu Afolabi, accused governors of the South‑West and other Yoruba‑speaking states of ignoring the threat posed by Fulani terrorists and earlier warnings the group had issued about the looming danger.

“The kidnapping, killing and beheading of our defenceless Yoruba kinsmen in Yorubaland is not only condemnable, it is highly provocative; and it will not be tolerated. We hereby urge the government to permit and equip the OPC and other self‑determination groups to confront the threat posed by terrorists in order to terminate the insecurity being imported into Yorubaland from the North. Yorubaland is under attack. Long ago, we warned; we shouted. But our leaders continued to play politics and refused to act on the matter. Now we must face the reality that the enemies have surrounded us,” Afolabi said.

OPC stressed that Yoruba people have been lulled into a false sense of safety while foreign bandits, terrorists, and their local collaborators prey on communities. “We will not tolerate a situation where our children cannot safely attend school, where our people cannot travel or where our farmers cannot farm because of some foreign elements. Time has come to take the bull by the horn and confront these unprovoked, cold‑blooded and needless killings,” Afolabi added.

The OPC chief criticised security forces for shooting at peaceful demonstrators protesting in areas where kidnappings and killings have occurred, suggesting that such actions raise suspicions of collusion with terrorist interests. He described as unacceptable the beheading of abducted teacher Michael Oyedokun, asking sarcastically what offence the defenceless teacher had committed to be killed like a chicken.

OPC warned that every minute terrorists remain in the forests strengthens their foothold to build dens for launching more attacks. The group called on governors in the Yoruba‑speaking South‑West and beyond to urgently invite vigilante, hunter, and militant groups to join the war against terrorism, and to declare a state of emergency while mobilising all available hands to support the security services.

“We cannot fold our arms anymore and wait for bandits and terrorists to be entering our homes, our towns and villages to kidnap and kill at will. Enough is enough. The government must rise up, support and equip patriotic and willing individuals and groups like OPC to enter the forests to restore sanity,” Afolabi said.

The OPC urged the executive and legislative arms of government to expedite action on creating state‑run police forces and to ensure that security groups in the South‑West are adequately equipped in the meantime.