Agitators for Yoruba nation appear to be heading on a collision course with security agents in Lagos today.
The agitators vowed yesterday to press ahead with their rally in spite of police warning that they should desist.
Olayomi Koiki, spokesman for the embattled Yoruba youth activist and one of the prime movers of the agitation Sunday Igboho, said the rally would go ahead as planned.
Organisers of the Lagos rally and the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), also insisted on going ahead with the rally today.
But the Police asked the secessionists to steer clear of Lagos.
Igboho, speaking from his hideout yesterday, accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the federal government of persecuting him for his “resistance to the incessant killing, raping and kidnapping of my people in Southwest Nigeria by armed Fulani herdsmen.”
Igboho, who was declared wanted by the Department of State Security (DSS) soon after the raid of his Ibadan house on Wednesday, said in a lengthy statement that government was out to “forcefully silence me so that the criminal herdsmen, who enjoy government’s sympathy, protection and immunity, can easily outrun the Southwest.”
Igboho had announced the suspension of the rally soon after the raid on his house only for his spokesman, Koiki, to declare yesterday that the rally would proceed as originally scheduled.
Koiki conveyed a message from Igboho to his supporters ”not to be weighed down about what happened, he is standing with the Yoruba Nation agenda,” a veiled reference to the raid on his house.
He added: “I can still confirm officially that the Lagos rally inasmuch as whatever news or rumours you’ve been listening to from different outlets will go as planned.
”The 3rd of July Mega rally will go as planned. All arrangements for the rally have been planned and nothing has changed.
“I have spoken to the organisers, nothing has changed so far. 3rd of July from exactly 9:00 am in the morning. The whole arrangement and planning is going on.
“I’ve spoken with the General Secretary of Ilana Omo Odua, George Akinola, and also in the early hours before noon, I spoke with Banji Akintoye and he is working tirelessly for the release of those taken away.
“The rally in Lagos is going to be a peaceful rally. It is going to be a mega rally. Do not be disturbed about what happened. So many developments took place at Igboho’s house.
“We might get a form of video from Igboho about the Lagos rally, which might be released. We’ll be deciding that in the next 24 hours.”
Meanwhile, the police threatened for the umpteenth time they would not allow any gathering, procession or rally by the agitators in Lagos.
Addressing a security gathering comprising operatives of the police, Department of State Security (DSS) and Federal Road Safety Commission at the command headquarters said they were prepared for the agitators.
He said security agents in the state were embarking on a show-of-force as a warning to the organisers of the rally or any group of persons planning to stage any rally or procession in the state in defiance of warnings.
He said: “The command and other security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FRSC and DSS have put measures in place to prevent any act of lawlessness, oppression and intimidation of any kind in the state on the said date, 3rd July, 2021 and beyond as Lagos State cannot afford to record and experience the violence orchestrated by some individuals during the 2020 Endsars protest that led to massive destruction of lives and properties in the state.
“The command still reiterates its stance that anyone caught participating or facilitating the so-called mega rally in Lagos State will be dealt with within the ambits of the law.”
