In this interview with WALE AKINSELURE, President of the Agbekoya Solidarity Movement of Nigeria, Bankole Ahmed, speaks on the rising insecurity in the South-West, the activities of terrorists and kidnappers, and the need to mobilise local hunters and vigilante groups to defend Yorubaland
Little has been heard about Agbekoya’s involvement in protecting Yorubaland against terrorists and kidnappers. What is happening?
We have written several letters to state governments regarding the security situation, but we have not been invited or called upon to assist. We only act when we are officially engaged. At present, we are constrained in our ability to support the police because we cannot operate without authorisation. I am deeply saddened by what is happening in the South-West and neighbouring states. We are very much alive and active, but the government is not engaging us. I can show you copies of several letters we have written, offering to assist in securing Yorubaland. We have over 35,000 men across 10 states. These are capable and experienced individuals who can operate effectively both on land and in difficult terrains. We also rely on our traditional and spiritual fortifications. The reality is that these terrorists have encircled the South-West, not just Oyo State. We have hunters, Agbekoya members and OPC operatives across Ibadan and other parts of the state. We are ready to serve any government that calls on us. We also hear that local governments receive about N10m monthly as security votes, but it is unclear how these funds are being utilised.
In the past, Agbekoya operated without government support while defending Yorubaland. Why is this different now?
Everything Agbekoya does is voluntary; nobody compels us. However, if I need to travel from my base to Ogbomoso for an operation, I cannot go alone. I would need to mobilise men, and that requires logistical support. We need government and well-meaning individuals to assist with transportation, logistics and operational needs. We are always ready to provide clear operational requirements when engaged. It is easy for us to confront these terrorists because we have traditional and spiritual backing, but funding is still necessary. Let the government bring all hunters together, deploy us into the forests, and we will flush these criminals out of the South-West. We are Yoruba; we understand the terrain and know what to do once we enter the forest. There are methods we cannot use in urban areas, but in the bush, we know how to operate effectively. We have done it before in places like Idi-Ayunre in Ibadan, where we entered the forest and successfully flushed them out.
The South-West already has Amotekun. Why not collaborate with the outfit?
Amotekun personnel are not meant to remain in towns alone; their most effective operations should be in the forests where these criminals hide. We are ready to collaborate with Amotekun, the police and other security agencies. These terrorists are human beings like us. If you study the history of the Agbekoya struggle, you will understand that similar battles were fought in the past. Those capacities and strategies still exist. We are not boasting. I live in a village, and we know what we are capable of doing. But if we are not formally invited, there is little we can do. We are also breadwinners for our families and cannot simply enter forests without official backing. These criminals carry AK-47 rifles and sophisticated weapons, while many of us rely on dane guns. It is therefore difficult to engage them without support. It is painful that people come from far northern areas to kidnap our people and demand huge ransoms. In Ogbomoso, children and teachers were abducted and ransoms of up to N100 million were demanded. This is unacceptable. Government must do more. Local hunters can work alongside the DSS and other agencies, enter the forests and flush out these criminals within one or two months if properly supported. If the government invites us, I will personally lead my men into the forests.
Some people believe these terrorists may be receiving local support. Do you agree?
We will uproot all collaborators. Anyone found aiding them — even from my own community — will be treated as an enemy of Yorubaland. What these criminals are engaged in is a form of organised crime. They abduct people and demand huge sums of money from families. It is a criminal enterprise. We are ready to act, but without government backing, we risk being accused of disturbing the peace.
What kind of support exactly do you need?
We need logistics — weapons, transportation and feeding. If properly supported, within one month we can complete the job. These terrorists are not invisible; they are human beings like us. Let us meet them in the field and see who prevails. We believe in ourselves and in our ability to secure our land.