Pan Yoruba Group Backs US, Nigeria Joint Strike On Terrorists

The bilateral strike on terrorists’ hideouts in Sokoto State last Thursday has been described as a bold and courageous step to stamp out extremism in Nigeria.

In a statement by the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM), a coalition of 130 Pan Yoruba groups, said the joint strike between Nigeria and the United States represents a present and consistent threat to Islamic fundamentalism in Nigeria.

AYDM general secretary Popoola Ajayi and Rasaq Arogundade signed the statement.
The AYDM called for the immediate arrest of Sheikh Gumi, whom the group described as the leader of the terrorists’ intellectual wing.

“Sheikh Gumi should be arrested. We are going to mount a local and international campaign to ensure his arrest and prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC)”.

AYDM urged the South West Governors to prepare for terrorist operations and possible attacks on the region, as the terrorists would wish to fight back, targeting the home base of the President and also foreign economic interests, of which Lagos and the South West are the chief host.

The group said the US and Nigeria should carry out more strikes to defeat terrorism in Nigeria.

The AYDM, however, said the growing spate of Islamic extremism reflects the violent clash of civilisation in Nigeria, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to decentralise Nigeria for ethnic self-determination.

“We welcome the attacks on terrorists that are determined to take over the Nigerian space. The attack has demonstrated that Nigeria is forging effective partnerships worldwide to reclaim the country’s lost sovereignty. The attacks are not enough. It is time to restructure Nigeria so that those who believe in a theocratic state and those who cherish democracy should have their own sovereign Republics”

The AYDM stated that no country can fight terrorism alone without sharing intelligence and operations with its allies.

The group said terrorism in Nigeria has become a tool for political bargaining.

“Terrorists and their sponsors are blackmailing Nigeria to submit power to them or risk widespread violence,” the group said.

It said the terrorists have their ideological camps made up of wealthy and influential Fulani who support violence employed to make Nigeria ungovernable to pave the way for a military coup or complete takeover of the political economy.

“We are dealing with sponsors of terrorists who do not believe in power sharing. They want the whole country to be at their mercy.

The AYDM said that with the US involvement in counter terrorism operations in Nigeria, the days of the terrorists are numbered, and also urged President Tinubu to expand frontiers of support to Russia and Israel.

“Nigeria needs as many countries as possible, as many friends as necessary to defeat terror. The Nigerian authority should also seek collaboration with Russia and Israel, some of the few countries that give unconditional support to Africa’s struggle for freedom.

“We wish to see the Nigerian anti- terrorism framework extended to Russia. Given the progressive role of Russia in counter terrorism operations in the Sahel, Nigeria needs to work with Russia and others to be able to fight terrorism effectively,” AYDM said.