A socio-political group, Afenifere, has reacted to the reported arrest of a suspected kidnapper in Ibarapa area of Oyo State by the men of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) on Sunday.
Iskilu Wakili was arrested on Sunday by men of the OPC after several attempts resulting in a gun battle on Sunday morning and has been handed over to the police.
Wakili and his clan have been repeatedly blamed for various kidnappings and killings in the past as details of his identity are also sketchy.
The OPC leader, Gani Adams, has confirmed the arrest in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, that Wakili has been handed to the police in Igbo Ora, Oyo State.
“I am happy that the notorious kidnapper had been captured alongside three others,” he said.
“It is a good development and a positive signal to other criminal elements that the South-West is no longer an abode for bandits, kidnappers, and criminal herders.
“I commend all the members of the joint security team that has made this possible because with the video at my disposal, it was purely a neat job.
“With this development, I think the whole world will agree with me that the fight against insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry needs native intelligence, information gathering, and grassroots support from local securities and operatives.
“As I have said earlier that the effort to rid the South-West of bandits and kidnappers was to complement the efforts of the police and in doing that, it is also very important for the police to support the local security operatives because they are always at the grassroots and they have their ears to the ground on local security matters.”
In their reaction, Afenifere, in a statement by its publicity secretary, Yinka Odumakin, said it “gives tremendous commendation to OPC under Iba Gani Adams for the arrest of Iskilu Wakili, a Fulani bandit who has been spreading terror on our people in Igboho area and the Nigerian police and other security agencies unable to do anything about him.
“We were not shocked that but for the intervention by the leadership in Oyo state, the police would have gone after the OPC boys instead of taking the criminal from them and do the needful. Nigeria is going nowhere with a security network that shuns federalism.”
However, the Police in Oyo State said three personnel of the OPC have been arrested over the purported arson carried out during the raid and arrest of Iskilu Wakili.
Police spokesperson in the state, Fadeyi Olugbenga, in a statement said the OPC members burnt down the house of Wakili and a female, (whose identity was yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report), was killed in the fire.
He added that Wakili, due to his frail appearance and state of health, he was been moved to the hospital while two other persons arrested with him by the OPC are being interrogated by the police.
The statement said: “The invasion was reportedly aimed at arresting one Wakili, a Fulani by tribe, who is alleged to be the sponsor and mastermind of various criminal attacks against the people/farmers of Yoruba origin in the community.
“The State Commissioner of Police has quickly moved into action and preliminary findings revealed that some OPC members went to Kajola community in Ibarapa North Local government Area of Oyo State.
“While there, the house of the Wakili in question was set ablaze, while a female (the identity of who is yet to be ascertained) was burnt in the fire and Wakili (about 75 years old and blind) with two (2) other persons were picked up. The three (3) of them are presently in the custody of the Police.
“The Commissioner of Police has directed that Wakili (due to his frail appearance and state of health), be moved to the Hospital, while others are being interrogated. Others being interrogated are the OPC members, involved in arson and murder.
“Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that any person or group of persons from any region or tribe that has been found culpable to have committed any criminal act(s) in the State would not be spared, but would be arrested and dealt with according to extant laws.”
The police concluded by stating that “anybody that has any case against Iskilu Wakili should report it to the State Criminal Investigation Department, (CID) Iyaganku Ibadan for discreet Investigation.”
