A Pan-Yoruba organization, Yoruba Koya Leadership and Training Foundation (YKLTF), has taken the governors of the area and its neighboring States, including Kogi and Edo, to court as a result of a wave of murders, kidnappings, and other criminal activity in the Southwestern States.
The group’s president, Otunba Giwa Deji Osibogun, and director of media and publicity, Amb. Demola Sanyaolu, stated in the lawsuit that they decided to pursue legal action as a result of the governors’ allegedly careless approach to the security of their constituents.
The Federal High Court Ibadan Judicial Division in Oyo State received the lawsuit with the file number IB/CS/189/22.
The plaintiffs include Otunba Ayodeji Osibogun, Chief (Mrs) Ronke Okusanya, Prof. Bisi Sowunmi, Senator Olatokunbo Ogunbanjo and Mr. Olakunle Osuntokun.
The defendants are all the governors of the region, Edo and Kogi States, including the attorneys-general of the States.
Among other demands, the plaintiffs are asking the court to compel the defendants to protect the lives, dignities, personal liberties of the people from the oppression of herders, bandits, kidnappers, who according to them, have continued to terrorize, maim, rape, kill and kidnap the people of the States.
“Declaration that the people residing in all the 9 States have a right to demand that the defendants be compelled to protect their communities and their farmlands from the encroachment and invasion of local and foreign herders, bandits and kidnappers who have continued to prevent the people of the communities from realizing their full potentials of enabling environment, favourable to their social and economic development”.
