About 5,000 members of the Reformed Oodua People’s Congress stormed the Imushin community, Ogijo area of Ogun State, to confront suspected militants in the area on Tuesday.
The members of the ethnic militia, who reportedly arrived the area in more than 100 buses and cars, were said to have reinforced from Lagos and Ogun states.
According to reports, members of the group moved around some of the areas after which they visited the Olumushin of Imushin, Oba Taiwo Bamgbose, who received them outside his palace.
A palace source who spoke with The PUNCH said the OPC members did not carry any weapon but were only armed with charms, which they claimed had powers.
He said, “They were over 5,000 and they filled the whole community. They carried all kinds of charms and a few of them even carried placards, protesting militant’s invasion of the South-West.
“They said they were ready to enter into the creeks to face the militants and kill them and all they needed was the permission of the traditional ruler. Some of them said they could transform to snakes and lions, once they get into the creeks.
“The traditional ruler, after thanking them for their concern, asked them to leave because he had not received authority from higher authorities to allow them fight the militants. He urged them to get approval from the government before doing anything in the community.”
Dare Adesope, President of the OPC group, who confirmed the visit said their presence in the community was to assure residents of their security.
Adesope said his group was incensed by the killings and kidnap of residents without any response from the government.
He also explained that the members of the group had issued a 14-day ultimatum to the militants to vacate the South West, adding that the ultimatum expired on Monday.
According to Adesope, “On July 19, we issued a 14-day ultimatum to the militants to end their activities in the South-West and we said if they didn’t leave, we will challenge them and defend our people. That ultimatum elapsed yesterday (Monday).
“The recent military action against the militants might have been influenced by our ultimatum, because prior to the release, the Federal Government didn’t do anything.
“We decided to go to the community in 107 buses and some cars, to show that the Reformed OPC is still on the ground and our aim is to protect the lives and property of everyone that is residing within our area of jurisdiction.
“Our silence all this while is not an act of cowardice. It is because we believe in dialogue before action. It is wrong for anyone to be kidnapping, raping, robbing and killing our people. We say no to that and we don’t want anything like that again in Yoruba land. After today, if we hear anything again in the area, we know what to do.”
The traditional ruler also appealed to the fleeing members of the 18 villages in the community to return home.
Olumushin of Imushin, Oba Taiwo Bamgbose also thanked the Federal Government, the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, and the members of the Joint Task Force for the efforts aimed at restoring sanity to the area.
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