Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has threatened to reveal the identities of politicians he alleged are behind the abduction of schoolchildren in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Speaking on Wednesday in a now-trending video captured by Wisdom TV, while receiving newly elected executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) led by Akinteye Babatunde at his residence in the Soka area of Ibadan, Igboho alleged that some politicians were sponsoring kidnappers operating in the state.

He also claimed he had volunteered to assist in rescuing the abducted pupils but was prevented from doing so by the Oyo State Government, adding state authorities informed him that the kidnappers had threatened to kill the victims if he attempted to intervene.

“If I am permitted to burst into the hideouts, they will flee. They are neither gnomes nor mannequins; they are humans, so that they could be dislodged. I know the politicians behind them, and if they do not stop perpetrating their evil acts, I will mention them all. I know them. The politicians behind them are the ones giving them ammunition and money.

“Later, they (Oyo government) informed me that the kidnappers said if I try to force myself to come rescue the children, they will kill them all. If they are serious about rescuing the victims, they should tell my boys and me to chase them out of the forests in our regions and see if those people will remain there even with their bombs and sophisticated weapons,” he said.

Igboho further claimed that despite obtaining federal approval for his security outfit, Iru Ekun, he was discouraged by the state government from deploying the network in the rescue efforts.

“After I arranged ‘Iru Ekun’ security network, the Federal Government permitted me, but the state government said no security must take a step behind them. Do we have to wait for him to flood the forests to rescue these children? I’m just concerned about these abductees; nobody can kidnap me, not even my family, because they are spread across Canada and Germany. Why should I fret?

“Despite how bad Buhari’s administration is, he completed his tenure. Why are they trying to stop a Yoruba man — Tinubu — from completing his? It was Tinubu who freed me when I was in exile. Why should I tackle him? And why are they trying to ruin his government? Igboho queried.

He also linked the security challenges to a broader political agenda, alleging that some individuals were working to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“The same thing they did to Jonathan is what they are doing to Tinubu. They want to make the country ungovernable for him. They even have fake news propaganda to scare the masses and divert supporters away from the President. Suppose the recent abduction is not a game. In Oyo, they made away with children. I volunteered to go, but the state government said ‘No.’”

His comments come days after bandits abducted dozens of pupils and teachers during attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, an incident that sparked widespread protets across the country.