Professor Banji Akintoye, a prominent Yoruba leader and the national head of the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, has sounded the alarm over the ongoing killings in Yoruba land.
He claims that suspected herdsmen have killed over 29,000 Yoruba people in recent years.
Akintoye made this statement on Monday, during a press briefing marking the anniversary of Yoruba Unity Day.
He described the situation as “horrible,” pointing out that the killings have been accompanied by rapes, kidnappings, and the destruction of farmlands.
“The herdsmen are daily killing our people,” Akintoye said, stressing that these attackers are bent on taking over Yoruba land.
According to him, the Fulani herdsmen’s violence is not just limited to murders. He detailed how women have been raped, and men, women, and children kidnapped for ransom.
“Farms, food barns, and entire villages have been destroyed,” he added.
Akintoye believes that the current situation has left the Yoruba people with no other option than to push for independence from Nigeria.
He said: “The only viable and sustainable answer to all this horrible situation is to separate our Yoruba nation from Nigeria.”
He further explained that a Yoruba nation would allow the people to exercise their sovereignty, protect their land, and build a stronger economy.
Akintoye emphasized the importance of this separation, stating that it is the only way to guarantee the security of Yoruba land.
He also called on traditional rulers and political leaders in the South-West to take Yoruba Unity Day seriously, urging them to adopt it as a public holiday.
“Obas, the fathers of our nation, should adopt this Yoruba Unity Day in their Councils of Obas,” Akintoye said.
The leader also appealed to South-West governors to support the movement, encouraging them to officially recognize the day during their meetings.
Akintoye stressed that his call for Yoruba self-determination is not emotional or selfish.
“Our perception of the Nigerian situation is intellectually sound and realistic,” he said, claiming that 80 percent of Yoruba people, both in Nigeria and in the diaspora, support the idea of Yoruba independence.
The scholar expressed concerns that the current state of Nigeria might lead to the destruction of the Yoruba people if drastic measures are not taken.
He described Nigeria as a “disaster” that could bring ruin to the Yoruba nation if the situation continues.
Akintoye also spoke about the creation of the regional security outfit, Amotekun, which was established a few years ago to curb the attacks by Fulani herdsmen.
He initially had hope in Amotekun’s ability to protect Yoruba communities. However, he said that the security outfit has been weakened by forces within the Nigerian government.
“There was some hope when our governors created Amotekun,” Akintoye said, “but the people in control of the Federal Government have contrived the impotence of Amotekun.”
He accused the government of undermining the security outfit, making it difficult for the regional force to effectively combat the rising insecurity.
According to Akintoye, the attackers have become more emboldened, carrying out their crimes not just in rural areas but also in major Yoruba cities.
“The terrorists are also becoming increasingly audacious in crimes and barbarism in our main cities,” he warned.
Akintoye’s statements come at a time when insecurity has reached critical levels across Nigeria, with clashes between herdsmen and local communities becoming more frequent and deadly.
The herdsmen have been accused of violent land grabs, especially in the middle belt and southern parts of the country.
Many communities, including the Yoruba, have expressed frustration with the Federal Government’s inability to address the situation.
Critics argue that the government’s failure to act has emboldened the attackers, leading to an increase in violence.
In recent years, herdsmen have been linked to several high-profile attacks, including the killing of farmers, burning of villages, and kidnapping for ransom.
Akintoye’s call for Yoruba independence adds to the growing sentiment for regional autonomy across Nigeria.
Many groups, from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the southeast to movements in the Niger Delta, are pushing for greater control over their resources and security.
