Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
It said it is saddened and disillusioned by the persistent and vicious killings in the State, pointing out they were exerting great toll on the physical and psychological wellbeing of the masses across the state.
These were contained in a statement signed by Dr. Innocent Emmanuel, chairman and Dr. Bapiga’an William, the Secretary of NMA in Jos.
The body expressed deep concerns, stressing the victims of these unwarranted attacks continue to “populate hospitals’ emergency wards and mortuaries in the state.”
Parts of the statement read: “Innocent, armless, accommodating and committed citizens of Plateau State have continued to live under the perennial unsavoury reality of perpetual terrorism manifesting as kidnappings for ransom, rape, maiming and killings as well as threats of total annihilation.
“On a daily basis, people are kidnapped from their houses and living with the fear that same will happen the next day elsewhere or in their neighbourhood unabatedly, with huge sums paid as ransom.
“These worrisome and sad turn of events is severely bleeding the resources of the people and ultimately wrecking the economy of the state in general, resulting in further increase in the sufferings that have characterized the life of ordinary citizens who abinitio have mostly been living below ,at or only slightly above the poverty line.
“People face the brazen reality of being attacked, injured and or murdered in cold blood while their homes, farmlands and means of livelihoods are completely destroyed with no end in sight to these hostilities.”
Plateau NMA called on security agencies to improve their performances so the killings can stop immediately.
“A society that abhors justice is only opening her doors to anarchy and lawlessness.
“Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done for all sorts and shades of criminality because this is the only way that sustainable peace can actually be achieved.
“The evil perpetrators of these heinous crimes cannot continue to remain “unknown gunmen” for close to two decades now.
“The security agencies should as a matter of urgency, do more to restore the confidence of the exasperated public so that reliable intelligence is made available to them, which they should act swiftly upon.
“We enjoin the security forces and Government to genuinely commit to doing more to prevent further incidences rather than taking reactive approaches on issues that a little more mindfulness, sincerity and commitment could nip in the bud.”
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