A pan-Yoruba group, Alliance of Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM), also called for the immediate recruitment of indigenes of affected communities into the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Amotekun for effective policing of the area.
The Inspector General of Police (IG) Kayode Egbetokun and the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Abiodun Oyebanji have been asked to as a matter of urgency, establish police stations in communities where traditional rulers were recently killed.
A pan-Yoruba group, Alliance of Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM), also called for the immediate recruitment of indigenes of affected communities into the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Amotekun for effective policing of the area.
A statement released on Tuesday morning by a coalition of pan-Yoruba groups under the aegis of AYDM called for immediate provision of security stations in the affected communities.
AYDM is the alliance of over 130 pan- Yoruba and community-based groups including Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC-New Era), O’odua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC), Covenant Group (CG), Agbekoya, Iteskiri Nationalist Congress, (INC), O’Odua Peoples Congress (OPC-Reformed), Yoruba Network Alliance (NENA), South West Professional Forum (SOWPROF), Association of Amalgamated Unions of Motor Mechanics and Technicians of Nigeria (South West), South West Progressive Youths Congress (SWYC), Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association (NATA-South West) and many others.
The AYDM General Secretary, Mr Popoola Ajayi, in a statement, said it was regrettable that there was no police station in Ekamefa communities with a population of 30,000 people. Ekamefa is made up of six ancient communities of Itapaji, Iye, Ipao, Oke-Ako, Ijowa and Irele, but none of them has any police station.
According to the coalition, the nearest police station to some of the communities is about 20km away.
AYDM said that for the past 25 years, there had been no police station in the communities, leaving them at the mercy of terrorists and bandits.
The group said the absence of police stations has turned the area into an ungoverned territory where kidnappers have free rein.
It said, “We appeal to the Inspector General of Police and the Governor of Ekiti State to see the establishment of six police stations, one in each community as an immediate step to be taken, to stop the continuous killing of royals, professionals and ordinary people alive.”
The AYDM General Secretary said, that in less than one week, the police IG can set up makeshift police posts in the communities while preparing the establishment of standard police stations in the months ahead. The group said the lack of police stations makes life unbearable and empowers armed groups to operate unhindered.
The AYDM said that the communities are historical settlements dating back over 100 years of history and are of significant relevance to Yoruba history, culture and economy.
The AYDM General Secretary said, “Ekamefa unknown to many people has one of the most fertile land in Yoruba land and the hub of rare species of plants and animals. It is rich in biodiversity with its vast green lurch tropical forest and extensive farmland.
"It is one of the few forests in Yorubaland that still boasts of cheetah and buffaloes all of which now face extinction. AYDM recalled that the Action Group (AG) and the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo chose the area for ranching that flourished for many years.
AYDM said the communities in the eighteenth century produced remarkable warriors who defended Yoruba land against Fulani invasion and also played a significant role in the Ekiti Parapo War which ended in 1886.
The AYDM said the communities are ready to partner with the Inspector General of Police but are frustrated by security initiatives that exclude the indigenous people who are the direct victims of the atrocities of murderers.
The AYDM said, “We are prepared to take the case of Ekamefa to the United Nations if the IG fails to do the right thing.
"Creating police posts is the easiest thing the IG can do. There is a military checkpoint in the area that has been compromised. What the people need are police stations made of people who live with them and experience their fears and aspirations. The Ekamefa people are traumatized and many have been forced to flee their community, due to the siege of fear and melancholy,” AYDM said.
According to the AYDM, no fewer than 50 people have either been killed, maimed or attacked in the past 10 years in Ekamefa communities. The group said it was embarrassed by the attitude of National Assembly members representing the area who acted as if they did not understand what it means for "traditional rulers to be killed like chickens".
“Instead of crying like a baby, we expected the House of Representatives member representing Ajoni and the Senator representing the area to have relocated to the communities until police stations are set up. We expected them to have moved swiftly to even begin the construction of police stations as a constituency project,” it said.
The AYDM said it was shocked but not surprised by the attitude of the Yoruba political class to the sad event in Ekiti State.
“It is surprising that after the killing of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State, and one in Kogi, it is as if the burden has been left for Governor Oyebanji alone while other South West states apart from Ondo are literally drinking and wining while their fatherland is under fire," it said.
The AYDM commends the Governor of Ekiti State, Abiodun Oyebanji for his swift responses, his dedication and hard work to get to the root of the violence in the state in the face of legal limitations occasioned by Nigeria’s defective federalism.
The group urged security operatives to update Nigerians on the outcome of their investigations in line with global best practices and not to create diversion through selective arrests of some people, to divert the attention of Yoruba people from the real issue of armed invasion and terrorism in Yoruba land.