Matilda Omonaiye/
The Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has told why members of the Oodua Peoples Congress arrested Iskilu Wakili, a suspected Fulani terrorist in Oyo State as he expressed dismay over the detention of those who nabbed the man.
NewsmakersNG learnt that the three detained OPC members have been released today.
According to the Aare Ona-Kakanfo, Wakili’s men abducted, raped and stole N320, 000 from a female Yoruba trader and dared a traditional ruler who asked for the return of the loot to do his worst.
He said that over 25 deaths comprising of those who resisted kidnap attempts in the seven regions of Ibarapa were traced to Wakili in the past three years.
Condemning the police who described Wakili that could see as a blind man and detained the OPC men after they arrested the suspected criminal, the Aare Ona-Kakanfo said in a vernacular interview conducted by the BBC: “That Wakili that you see is a tough hide. He is just pretending. In Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun, Wakili has collected ransom from about 100 victims. There’s no Fulani man that has more cow than Wakili. He has been building his herd with the ransom taken from kidnap-victims.
“Where he lives, Operation Burst had been there twice in about 12 patrol vehicles. But the attempt to arrest him failed. So, I’m surprised that the police in Oyo now portray him as a sick and innocent person.
“Even if we overlook his past crimes, the villages in Ayete, Igangan, and Igboora where Yoruba people live and farm, about 80 to 85 villages have been deserted. The people who are predominantly cassava farmers have been dislodged from their farms. Four days ago in Kajola village, Wakili’s men butchered some farmers.
“Six days ago in Iyeje at Ayete, a woman sold a truck of cassava for N320, 000, and Wakili’s men waylaid her, raped her, and stole the money from her. The traditional ruler in the area called the boys close to Wakili and asked them why they raped his subject and stole her money. They pledged to return the money. On Friday, they sent a message to the Kabiyesi that they were not returning the money again, and they dared him to do his worst.
“There’s no Oba in Ibarapa that doesn’t fear Wakili.
“At 2a.m. today four people were killed at Idiyan Village. The operation was led by Wakili’s son, Abu. The victims were not shot. They were butchered. The present day government is not ready to deal with these people. None of those arrested has ever been jailed.
It’s sad to see the police turning courageous crime fighters into criminals and portraying criminals as saints. The statement the police issued after Wakili was arrested will encourage more criminals in our country. It will give criminals confidence. Wakili has over 200 men.”
