YAF alleged the plot by these individuals and groups to cause violence and chaos in Yorubaland was aimed at instigating bloodshed to achieve their evil plans of secession of the South-West to hasten the disintegration of the Nigeria.
It further accused the agitators of mobilising youths in the region for more violent protests and bloody confrontation with governmental authorities and security agencies.
YAF National Coordinator, Adesina Animashaun, stated these at a briefing on Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to YAF, the group has learnt the masterminds of the recent spate of violence in some parts of South-West, particularly in Igagan and the whole of Ibarapaland, Oyo State and Shasha market in Ibadan, the state capital, are part of the plans by these nefarious elements to throw Yorubaland and Nigeria into total chaos.
The forum accused the individuals and groups claiming to be fighting for Yoruba independence of “planning to take advantage of the current security challenges in the country to wreak further havoc, starting with the South-West and expecting to instigate reprisals against Southerners in the North with the ultimate objective of destabilising the country.
“We want to warn again that the recent violence arising from the activities of these self-styled Yoruba freedom fighters, especially the rash of threats to some other Nigerians residing in Yorubaland by certain individuals, was just the onset of the large scale and widespread violence already scheduled by those planning the eventual disintegration and dismemberment of the Nigerian nation, with the South-West as their launch pad. For them, that was just the beginning!”
It also condemned the alleged current ethnic profiling of Northerners and campaigns of calumny against Nigerians of the Fulani ethnic stock, saying these were aimed at achieving their evil plans of instigating disintegration and ultimately dismembering Nigeria.
YAF called on the police authorities and security agencies to take appropriate and urgent steps to deal decisively with these elements bent on fomenting trouble in the South-West, saying they should not allow themselves to be swayed or deceived by the “disguised antics and plans of these shameless and unpatriotic self-styled freedom fighters,” in order to nip their evil plans in the bud.
The forum “sternly warned” the Yoruba youths masquerading as freedom fighters and self-determination agitators that it would vehemently oppose any group or individuals attempting to turn the South-West into a theatre of war.
“Any Yoruba who has collected money from both local and foreign forces to destabilise the South-West should retrace their steps to avoid the doom awaiting them.
“Those self-styled Yoruba freedom fighters creating tension by engaging in ethnic profiling and evil propaganda against Nigerians of other ethnic stock living in the South-West should desist.”
We are already aware of their sinister plans and we have already communicated same to the relevant security agencies for appropriate action in order to save Yorubaland from unnecessary and avoidable violence and chaos,” YAF warned.
“The 2023 general elections are just two years away and Nigerians will once again have the opportunity to exercise their franchise to vote in those they want in government and vote out those they are no longer comfortable with. All citizens should be patient and wait peacefully till that time to exercise their voting rights,” it said.
