The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, have issued a stern warning to Boko Haram terrorists and members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) to quit their activities in the South West and leave or face the consequences.

Gani Adams, who admitted that Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters are hiding in the South-West, accused miners of protecting the terrorists.

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland stated that despite several attempts to meet with the leadership of the South-West governors for collaboration has proved futile.

Adams said, “We are worried over the influx of Boko Haram fighters in the South-West. We have discussed at the Aare-in-Council meeting, the OPC meetings and South-West Security Stakeholders’ group.

“The influx of northerners in Ilesha and Ile Ife is because of the mining activities going on there," he said.

“We have seen camps of over 30,000 northerners around Ilesha and Ile Ife forests. They have created villages around there, but there are no Yoruba people living there, unfortunately, most of the communities in Ilesha have been overrun by these mining activities. It is easy for the miners to hide Boko Haram and ISWAP members. We have an influx of ISWAP members in the South-West.

“I have written to the governors that I am ready to cooperate with them on the security of Yorubaland. All hands must be on deck on security matters.

“It is unfortunate that our political class play politics with the security of their states. We don’t have the intention to take the state from the governors and that is why we call it synergy.

“Since I spoke about it in January 2024, nothing has been done by the governors. As the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, the traditional Defense Minister, according to the history of Yorubaland, I have to be given a role. I cannot force myself on the governors but if they don’t give me a task, it will be difficult for me and if I try to do it, I will be intruding on governance, it can cause me problems.

That is why I am being careful. I wrote letters last year to all the governors but there was no reply. If they don’t respond, we will continue to do the little we can do underneath but history will judge all of us. Anywhere you see terrorists, it is always about mineral resources, they scare the people away and cause a crisis in the area.

“We have the structure, the assets and some of the best brains who can be helpful to the South West. As far I am concerned, the ball is left in the court of the governors to do the needful.”

“When Amotekun was founded, OPC members, vigilantes, hunters and other private security groups were recruited but it was not enough. For instance, Oyo State is big, you cannot say 1,000 Amotekun corps can cover such a vast state. They will need like 30,000 personnel. Unfortunately, the governor can only cater for only 2000 personnel, but we can back it up with relevant security groups coordinated by my office.

“If you say I should not take charge, I will step back but mind you, I always do some behind-the-scenes spiritual work on securing Yorubaland because I don’t want the issue to go out of hand.

“Even if I do some behind the scenes spiritual work and I am not involved in strategy, it is not enough.”