Ife Crisis: OPC Calls for Removal of Police IG for Alleged Ethnical Bias

The accusation of bias against the police on the clash between some Hausa and Yoruba people in Ile-Ife is far from over, going by the day-to-day reactions from Yoruba leaders and socio-cultural groups.

The recent of the reactions on the alleged one-sidedness of the security agency on the Ile-Ife crisis is a call for the removal of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris by the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) over charges of tribalism and prejudice.

Arrested Yoruba suspects on Ile-Ife crisis with ARG Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin

OPC President Fredrick Fasehun in a press statement on Monday accused Idris of bias, tagging him an ethnic jingoist for arresting only Yorubas (the hosts) in a clash involving the settlers.

Fasehun, who accused Idris of acting an ethnic script said: “The IG just confirmed that only Yoruba were arrested in a conflict between Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani people; that is prejudicial and that is unacceptable.

He pointed out that the police have swing into action only in cases where victims put up resistance against, he alleged   that the police often arrest people defending their homes and farms against invaders.

The OPC leader added: “Everywhere communities rise up to resist agents of death, Idris would quickly rise up to arrest citizens for daring to protect themselves,” Fasehun reiterated.

“Idris is a man with an agenda. He has shown himself a bigot. And he is unfit to be the IG of Police in a cosmopolitan and pluralistic country like Nigeria. Before he smears President Muhammadu Buhari, the President should offload him.

“The IG has admitted that only Yoruba suspects were arrested and that it was deliberate. It is a clear case of prejudice.

“An admission of tribalism, is unbefitting of the exalted position of the Inspector-General of the Nigerian police. It is a confirmation that the police under Mr. Ibrahim Idris took the prejudicial step to arrest only Yoruba people although the crisis pitched two tribes against each other.”

Fasehun accused the police chief taking sides and that contrary to his training and oath of office, foreclosed an open case between two conflicting groups.

He called for the immediate release of the Ife-20, saying, their arrest neither followed due process nor the facts on the ground.

Fasehun warned that such a prejudicial stance by security agents like the IG could embolden herdsmen to inflict violence and death on communities across the country.

He said: “Is there any wonder why under Idris’s watch, the police has been unable to apprehend, prosecute and check the mayhem inflicted by Fulani herdsmen at Agatu in Benue State, where they have sacked communities and continue to graze their cattle with impunity, in Delta State, in Ekiti State, Ogun State, Nasarawa State, Benue State, in Plateau State and in Southern Kaduna?

“Despite the havoc being unleashed and continued against citizens in Southern Kaduna, the police under Idris has not been unable to apprehend and prosecute a single culprit.