RECENTLY, the people of Akunnu-Akoko in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State, led by their brave young Regent, Princess Tolani Orogun took the battle to the suspected criminals who had kidnapped seven people and at the end of the day rescued the innocent victims.
THIS unusual feat is commendable for many reasons. The people, on seeing a vehicle parked on a lone road with doors wide open, suspected foul play and alerted the Regent, Princess Tolani Orogun, who immediately mobilized both local hunters and vigilante groups to comb the forests before the success story came about. The promptness and courageous manner with which the people acted to dare the suspected kidnappers revealed that they were proactive and must have surely put in place self-defense mechanisms before the incident.
THE Hope sees this as commendable, as self -defence is very ideal in contemporary Nigerian society, where the law enforcement agencies often drag their feet when prompt actions are needed. The Akunnu-Akoko people also used their feat to show that the criminals are not invincible but ordinary mortals who got killed during the shoot- out while the rest fled. Their actions also showed that with good rapport and cooperation between followers and selfless leaders as exemplified by Princess Tolani Orogun, there are no obstacles that people can’t overcome.
STILL, with her heroic performance, the young Regent has proved that, ” what a man can do, a woman can do better”. That should give the male chauvinists another food for thought. Akunnu-Akoko has indirectly lend support to the claim of the military brass who recently enjoined Nigerians to own weapons to defend themselves, a subtle admittance of the fact that the security structures on ground are incapable of keeping us safe or allowing us to sleep with both eyes closed.
ANOTHER significant lesson passed on by the incident is that prompt actions must always be taken when criminal incidents are reported, as the kidnappers would have probably succeeded in their nefarious act, if the people had relied on just the police, who are noted for bureaucratic red tapism and evasive excuses when issues bordering on criminal activities are involved.
We find courage in the directive of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Odunayo Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), asking local government chairmen to go after the bandits and kidnappers making life unbearable for the people. The governor had directed the chairmen to utilise the services of local hunters to hunt down the criminals from their environment.
This directive is long over due as evidence has shown that local people are the most appropriate to protect their constituency because of their knowledge of their environment. The legendry OPC has proved the assertion with the arrest of the Fulani warlord, Iskilu Wakilu and we ask that other communities being assailed follow suit. In doing so, the equipment and weapons of local hunters should be upgraded to march those paraded by bandits. Akunnu-Akoko people have proved that with the right mobilisation and logistics, the locals can respond to any critical threat or emergency.
THE success of the Akunnu-Akoko show of strength between invaders and the locals must serve as an eye opener that the salvation of any threatened community lies in their collectivity to defend themselves with the last pint of their blood. The Hope feels the Regent of Akunnu-Akoko, Princess Tolani Orogun, should formally be commended for the good leadership qualities she has displayed, while other communities should be enjoined to emulate her good gestures by using traditional measures to protect themselves.
The Hope believes that if local communities are well -motivated and given the logistic wherewithal, crimes and criminal activities will be reduced to the barest minimum possible, and the country will once again be a peaceful place to live joyfully.