Oyo Sariki Fulani denies coordinating, collecting ransom from kidnappers

As claims and counter claims of kidnapping for ransom persist in Oyo State, the Sariki Fulani, Alhaji Salihu Abdulkadir on Monday denied his complicity.

He maintained his innocence, saying that he never negotiated with kidnappers at Igangan community in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state.

The Sariki Fulani was quoted to have been coordinating kidnapping gangs for herdsmen where he shares loot with them, but reacting to the allegation, he denied ever involved in abductions.

Community leaders in Ibarakpa in Oyo State on Sunday insisted that he was involved in kidnapping when Oyo State government’s delegation visited Ibarakpa community on fact finding mission.

CAPITAL POST reports that Yoruba Youth activist, Sunday Adeyemo, alias Igboho issued vacation ultimatum for herdsmen on account of kidnapping and abductions in Ibarakpa and Igangan areas of Oyo State.

But speaking with journalists on the contentious issue, Abdulkadir challenged those making the allegations against him to prove his involvement.

“I never collected anything from kidnappers or their victims, it is a mere allegation.

“Let them present their evidence. They had been saying this before, and I have responded to their baseless claims on several radio programmes.

“Let them provide the evidence to the police and let police (take action) if it is true.

“I have been aiding the security agencies in tackling kidnapping in the area.

“We have the police who have arrested many kidnappers in that region with our aid.”

The Sarkin also stated that Yoruba boys, working for a popular thug, were among some kidnappers arrested in the community.

“The kidnappers arrested were both Fulani and Yoruba. Among they were Taye and Keyinde, and they are the boys of a popular political thug. Their record is with the police,” he said.

The Sarkin Fulani also denied having armed guards.

He said neither was Sunday Adeyemi, popularly known as Igboho, shot at his (Abdulkadir’s) residence.

“Let them produce the evidence as well.

“If I have guards who bear arms, the police are in the best position to say this.

“15 policemen that were deployed to my house after the quit notice. If I have guards, they (guards) would have resisted the youth that attacked us.

“We don’t bear any arms, we are law-abiding citizens.

“Let them provide the evidence of their allegation.

“I am ready to face them at the police headquarters or at the court of law,” he stated.