By DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA—The moribund farmers group popularly called Agbekoya has expressed readiness to partner with governments in the South West geo-political zone  to end incessant robbery attacks being experienced in the region.

The group which is being resucitated and strengthened was known for its unconventional and near magical powers.

Speaking  during the inauguration of the state executive  council and decoration of  Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, the President-General of the Association,  Kamorudeen  Okikiola, lamented that, police could not fight  robbers and criminals alone.

Okikiola stated that, the  association was worried at the rising robbery attacks on in the whole South West, saying, that, the association was ready  to rid the states of armed robbers and criminals, if the association  is allowed to operate like it did during the time of  the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo.

He said: ‘’Almost all over the South-West states, the issue of armed robbery is almost on a daily basis, from Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Ondo, Osun and others. Today, they rob a bank, tomorrow, they rob more than one.

‘’As much as we want to commend the police for their gallantry, I want to state that the police alone can’t tackle the robbery problems in the country or even in the South-West. For me, as a leader of the Agbekoyas, I know how to handle the problem of armed robbery in our region, if called upon to assist  the government.”

Okikiola who further stated that his group was  not known only with farming, but was  responsible for the security of  Western Region during the era of the  late sage, Obafemi Awolowo.

‘’During the time of  Awolowo, in the old Western region we were for both farming and security,” he said.

While speaking on the impact of Boko Haram menace on the  association, Okikiola  lamented that the activities of the  dreaded group which he said has led to loss of their farm produce  in the Northern part of the country, saying,  drivers were afraid  to convey their products to the  markets from the northern region.

“We have 30 trailers of cassava, 20 trailers of yam and pepper, but the drivers are requesting for huge payment because of the fear of Boko Haram,”he said.