…Gani Adams, MASSOB, others react
A pan Yoruba social-political organisation, Afenifere, has said that the DSS’ attack on Sunday Igboho was a sad indication that Nigeria is returning to the era of the late Gen Sani Abacha when anyone who expressed contrary opinions to government’s position were persecuted.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Jare Ajayi, on behalf of the acting leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, stated that the manner of attack indicated culpability on the part of those in authority.
The statement reads in part, “We are forced into this deduction for a number of reasons. First, eyewitness accounts indicated that vehicles and uniforms of the attackers were that of the security agencies.
“Second, the failure of security agencies to confront the attackers further implicated the government.
“It was reported that the attack lasted for more than three hours. Igboho’s residence is in a highly populated area within minutes’ reach to surrounding police stations.
“That no rescue team came from any of the police units, including the DSS office in Ibadan for the several hours that the attack lasted makes it difficult not to believe that the government is complicit in the attack.”
The also disclosed that the incident was a sad reminder of what Nigerians went through under the inglorious regime of late Gen Sani Abacha.
It said, “We recall with sadness how voices that were opposed to the dictatorial tendencies of Abacha regime were under serious attacks. We recalled how patriots like General Alani Akinrinade, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Pa Alfred Rewane and so on, were attacked resulting in the untimely and gruesome murder of Pa Rewane.
“Government security agencies are now becoming emboldened in violating the rights of citizens because the previous violations were not checked.
“A total stop must be put to the unprovoked attack on innocent citizens in the country.
“Not only that, we insist that government must immediately apprehend the attackers and make them to face the full wrath of the law. Government should also stop any plan to harm Igboho or any other person not known to contravene the law of the land.”
Gani Adams reacts
Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams has said the attack was a ploy to silence him from expressing his views on the state of the nation.
Adams also urged the Federal Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the ugly incident and also bring perpetrators to book.
In a statement by his spokesman,Kehinde Aderemi, Adams stated that the attack has exposed the Federal Government, especially, on the spate of insecurity in Nigeria.
He also alleged that the attack was a predetermined ploy to silent Igboho from the struggle for the Yoruba nation, claiming that that the Yoruba nation is what many Yoruba, both home and abroad, wanted at the moment.
Adams said, “The recent attack was the second in six months.The first was in January when his Soka resident was razed by unknown arsonists. And up till date, nobody had been apprehended in respect of the ugly incident.
“Those agitating for Yoruba nation have been the targets of this administration and the two attempts at Igboho’s houses within six months cannot be said to be ordinary. They were ploys to cow him and frustrate him.
“We cannot continue to live in fear and trepidations. We cannot continue to live in perpetual crisis where our lives and properties are not secured.
“Igboho is being haunted because of his beliefs in the struggle for the liberation of Yoruba race and those behind these two attacks should be warned that any attack on Igboho is an attack on all of us that are in the struggle for the liberation of Yoruba race. It is sad that this government is intolerant of other people’s views.”
Meanwhile, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has reiterated its support and resolve to continue to identify with Oduduwa Republic agitation.
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has reacted against the attack, saying that the development justified the true identity of the unknown gunmen terrorising the country.
The group said, “This incident has confirmed to doubting Thomases the true identity of the unknown gunmen that has been terrorising the entire country.
“It has never been reported that Sunday Igboho as an activist and freedom fighter has ever been seen carrying gun to kill anyone, anywhere.
“The true and only killers in the country are the murderous Fulani herdsmen/terrorists who kill people all over the country without the federal government doing anything about it.”
