Gani Adams, coordinator of the O’odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), says the socio-cultural group is ready to help government in checking criminal activities, especially vandals of oil installations.
Speaking with NAN on Wednesday, Adams said the OPC was forced to withdraw its security service after being blacklisted by the government.
He condemned the recent abduction of Goriola Oseni, the traditional ruler of Iba town in Iba local council development area of Lagos state, and other atrocious acts that violent groups have committed in parts of Lagos and Ogun states.
On Saturday, suspected Niger Delta militants abducted Oseni from his palace after shooting one of his wives and killing his guard.
“I condemn the kidnapping of a traditional ruler (Oba) and others in Lagos. I also condemn the killings in some parts of the state in recent time,” he said.
“Vandals have killed a number of persons in Ikorodu area. They are involved in pipeline vandalism before now; they are involved in ritual killings.
“We, OPC, are ready to help the government in providing security if we are invited. We participated in providing security before, but the police took us as criminals.
“We do not want people to misunderstand us again; hence we resolved to provide security for only those that request for our services.
“The federal government should not take the security of Lagos state for granted. It is a state housing all ethnic groups and their investments.”
Adams noted that in spite of OPC’s contributions to security in the south-west, the government or the people had not appreciated its efforts.
He said all hands should be on deck if the security situation must be addressed, adding that the kidnapping of a monarch is an insult to Lagos and Ogun state governments and urged security agencies to step up their operations.