Ife Crisis: Youths Condemn Trial of Yoruba Suspects in Abuja

By Oluniyi Akintunde, Akure

A pan Yoruba group, the Yoruba Youth Council (YYC) has condemned the trial of suspects of Yoruba origin who were arrested in connection with the crisis between Hausa and Yoruba people at Federal High court in Abuja.

The group also decried what he described as mass arrest on only Yorubas in Ile-Ife, saying that only Yorubas were being arrested and charged to court.

In a press statement issued and signed by its Chairperson, Comrade Ewatomilola Owoeye at the end of their inaugural meeting in Akure, Ondo State capital on Wednesday the group urged police to transfer those arrested to Osun State where the incident occurred for their trial.

The group maintained that the crisis happened in Ife, Osun State, not Abuja where the suspected were being prosecuted, condemning the way and manner the Federal Government is handling the matter.

It maintained that it would not sit and watch Yoruba nation being conquered in their fatherland.

The group, however, urged the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to conduct proper investigation on the matter so as not to arrest innocent Nigerians especially Yorubas.

Commenting on the newly government in Ondo state led by Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, the group also charged the governor to fulfill all his campaign promises to the people of the state.

It called on Akeredolu to make sure that his Commissioner for Youths and Sports and Adviser are not older than 40 years, just as je he charged the governor to involve women in his administration stressing that their roles would be beneficial to the state.

The group, however, urged the people of Ondo state to support the newly government for the progress of the state.