₦airaland Forum

Rafiu Kolawole Abdulrasaq, a security expert and former PA (Security) to former Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, former, Chairman FIRMA Lagos and later SURE-P under President Goodluck Jonathan amongst others, speaks with
Gboyega Alaka on the ongoing battle against Fulani herdsmen being championed by Sunday Adeyemo (AKA Sunday Igboho), the danger of ethnic profiling, how he once orchestrated Igboho’s arrest back in 2010 and why he is not fit to carry the light for the Yoruba.

You have quite a reputation working with politicians, especially in the area of security. Tell us about it.

My name is Abdulrasaq Rafiu Kolawole aka OTO (for Authority). I attended St Paul’s Primary School and Archbishop Aggey Memorial Secondary School, both in Idi -Oro Mushin; I later attended Olabisi Onabanjo University. I also passed through Dubai Police College. I am a security expert. I was former head of bodyguard to former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola; former head of bodyguard to Governor Kayode Fayemi, former Chairman task-force under former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State and former PA Security to former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola. Before then, I was also once chairman, FIRMA under former President Obasanjo, Chairman task-force on Sure-P under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

You seem to have a particular interest in the ongoing Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho onslaught against the rampaging killer Fulani herdsmen. Tell us about it

I am here today because of what is currently going on in Oyo State. This guy called Sunday Igboho as far as I am concerned has been trying to create tension – unfortunately, many people do not know who he really is. Throughout the world, Yoruba are known and regarded as intelligent and accommodating people and we would not and should not allow someone to spoil our name, image and integrity under the pretext of fighting Fulani herdsmen – because the implication of what he is doing is such that the Yoruba people would not be able to handle. Again, the whole world looks at the Yoruba as the livewire of Nigeria, so why should a person like Igboho be our representative or mouthpiece? Yoruba are not hooligans!

What exactly do know about Sunday Adeyemo aka Igboho?

Igboho is a man on the streets and capable of all manners of atrocities. You can quote me on that. I am also on the streets. I have been on the streets since 1976. You can ask about me in Yaba. So we know ourselves. There are some people who would be involved criminal activities in a community but would assisting people; that assistance is to cover up their tracks so that people would not know who they really are. Sometimes in 2010, specifically around December leading to the first Iwude Day in Osun State, I personally, as Special Assistant on Security to former Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, orchestrated the arrest of Igboho after I got a reliable intelligence that he had been induced to eliminate some prominent politicians. I petitioned the IG of Police, Onovo and they referred the matter to Osogbo Command, while they got him arrested. Their plan was to wear fake uniform and commit the dastard act on the first Iwude Day of that 2010.

You had to go to Abuja?

Yes. My principal, Aregbesola objected to use of force or confrontation. He said we should do everything legal to foil their plan. That was why I ran to the IG’s office in Abuja and wrote a petition, which I signed myself. The police said they would get him arrested. They actually invited him but due to the people that he was working for that I would not want to mention here for obvious reasons, the case was buried. Besides, those people may have repented but I cannot say the same of Igboho himself.

Are you saying Igboho was a political thug?

Yes, he was a political thug. He was being used by the PDP. I know because even I am a former member of the PDP. I was Chairman SURE-P under Obasanjo – it was called FERMA then and later chairman SURE-P Federal Task-Force under Jonathan. We know ourselves very well and I can tell you that he has tentacles everywhere, including Lagos. I know them and I know their mission. So how can such a person be representing the Yoruba race? It is his likes that went to burnt TVC and other infrastructure during the EndSARS protests – all these people who come from far flung places and live in the market. Why should anybody be living in the market? Area boys carrying guns! During Obasanjo’s time, the police and the military invaded the places and took all of them to Panti. I’m a Lagosian; you can never see any true-born Lagosian who will be so mad as to go and sit-out at Lekki Toll plaza and engage in such vandalism.

These are weighty allegations, what if Igboho takes you to court?

He dare not. I told you I wrote a petition to the police and got him arrested. Why didn’t he take me to court then? Everything I say here, I can substantiate but that will be to the police or DSS, not to you people. Anything security has to be covert. If anyone doubts me, let the police investigate him from his youthful day. They should monitor his call logs.

But this is the same man who said he met Asiwaju personally and that the man even gave him a gift of N2million…

That’s a lie, don’t mind him. The truth is that Asiwaju is such a responsible person and everybody wants to attach themselves to him.

How about the part Senator Babafemi Ojodu wrote about him?

Of that, I do not know, because I was not present there. I will only say what I am sure of.
Well, you may have your reservations about him and indeed, he may have his past, but by taking up this cause against the killer Fulani herdsmen, people are beginning to accept Igboho as fighting a good cause.

Are you saying he is not doing the right thing?
He is not doing the right thing. If truly he wants to help his people, what he should do is contact the security personnel, and tell them ‘such and such is happening in my home town and I have tried my best to resolve it without much success; I have also gone to their Seriki and nothing positive is happening; I need you people to step in. We are ready to support you. We know where these people are….’ And then work in conjunction with the security officers, so that whatever you do is legal. We don’t want Nigeria to become another Palestine. In Palestine, there is no law. If somebody slaps me, I’d go home and bring all my people to come and beat you up and all your people, including your mother. We don’t want Nigeria to degenerate into that kind of society.

What are the police there for? What are the DSS there for?

But people have come out to say that the police have not done anything after several reports and petitions about the evils being perpetrated by these people, even siding with them in some cases.

That does not justify anything. Listen, in the 1970s, we had Babatunde Folounsho, the best armed robber of the year; we had Oyenusi; we had Mighty Joe – all Yoruba.

Would that mean that all Yoruba are armed robbers? In Babangida’s time, there was Anini, Osunbo, Iyamu, the police inspector. They were the ones terrorising the whole of Benin and by extension, Nigeria.

Would that mean that all Benin people were armed robbers? Go and check Google; you would see all the crimes being perpetrated and serial killers. The young boy killing women in Ibadan; is he a Fulani man? Why didn’t they go and kill his whole family? I am not saying all is well or that there is no problem in our communities concerning these Fulani herdsmen; physically, I have not seen or experienced any of their violence and as a Muslim, I don’t say what I don’t know, but the issue is that if truly this thing is happening, you have to investigate and fish out who and who are involved, not indict a whole ethnic group. What is presently unfolding can lead to religious war or ethnic war. Already, some Muslims are seeing it as ‘They are killing Muslims.’ Even Yoruba Muslims. You may have noticed that they are not talking. Because the Quran says you Muslims are all brothers. Allah says he has bind you with one rope; but if any one of you is a criminal, you can identify that criminal and remove him from your community or eliminate him, but according to the law of the land. And you have to be sure of what you are doing; not guessing.

Fulani people have been living in our communities long before they even gave birth to my own grandparents and we never had any problem with them. The Hausa community is here in Mile 12; we don’t have any problem with them. Let everybody live in peace. Nigerians will go to America and be hoping to get an American passport in five years. Some even aim at political appointments. But here, you don’t want to see your fellow Nigerians. I lived in Dubai for four years; we know what some of our Nigerian brothers did there, robbing banks, committing ATM fraud, killing; I joined the Dubai police briefly and investigated them for the Dubai police, but would that mean that all Nigerians are criminals?
You saw what happened during EndSARS protests, when some people killed policemen and roasted and ate them before camera.
Are those human beings? Those are ritualists; they only need blood; they are the likes going about with Igboho.

Some people may say that you have been paid to rundown Igboho, whom they perceive as fighting a necessary fight.

God will punish that person that paid me. How can somebody pay me to rundown somebody? I have my own family and children and I will die one day. I am 57 years old. Do I want my children to grow up and face all these problems, which they don’t know anything about? All the people at the centre of this whole trouble know how to escape when the trouble finally erupts in our faces. You know, once you’re a criminal, you always know the paths through which to escape. Look, all this juju that they are flaunting is a bloody lie. When it is your time to die, you will surely die. All I am saying is that if Igboho has any issue, he should liaise with the police; not make a PDP/APC politics out of it. Igboho clearly has another mission.

Are you saying this whole battle is politically motivated?

Yes, but tactically. He is a PDP guy, so he may be fighting for the PDP.

How about the allegation that the soldiers and the police are aiding and abetting these criminal herdsmen?

That’s what they have been saying but can you swear to it? There are so many cases that they’d say Fulani herdsmen but after investigating and arrests are made, you find that the people behind them are not Fulani men. The godogodo that has killed over one hundred policemen, is he a Fulani man? Is Evans a Fulani herdsman? Criminals now use Fulani herdsmen as cover-up. So until we start doing proper investigation, we may be endangering our society.

The governors in whose domains these violence are being perpetrated are also saying they don’t control the police…

That does not matter. I’m not in charge of security in my immediate community right now but I still use my discretion to discharge certain things. The governors hold meetings with the security agents nearly every week; you can call them to order. Tell them such and such is going on; exchange intelligence gathered and ideas on how to combat the issues. Personally, from your security vote, you can give them money and I can tell you that they would do it using their discretion. A governor can even write a petition as an ordinary citizen intimating them on what is happening and what you want them to do – not hide under the guise that you do not control the police. Ordinary individual that has money controls the police, how much more a governor. But if there is no report and the police just come there, people can say they came there illegally. We are not saying we do not have some bad people in the police but is it every police that is bad?

What advice do you have for the Southwest governors; don’t forget that Igboho also visited Ogun state, purportedly on the invitation of the governor?

No, the governor did not invite him. He said it publicly that he did not invite him. That’s why I said everything is politics. It’s just like this EndSARS madness. When they started their clamour, the government cooperated; the IG cooperated and said there would be no more SARS; but because they had another motive, another devilish agenda, they refused to stop. I was ready to face them, who will die will die but some people said we should let them be. You saw them burning everything. Is that how to right a wrong? Okay, they said some people stole money and went to buy houses in Dubai; can they go and burn the houses in Dubai? Asiwaju that they are all targeting is a Lagosian, he has the right to do business and own properties. If you have cogent evidence against him, write a petition to the EFCC or go to the station and make a report. This is a man who has done a lot to develop Lagos. Ikosi ordinarily is a local area; but by bringing TVC, a television of such a huge standard to the community, he has elevated its value. So how can anyone decide to burn such an edifice on the pretext of anger? They went to the palace of the most paramount monarch in Lagos and vandalised and desecrated it. Only bastard would do that. Can we go to Ibadan or Edo or Owerri and destroy their monarch’s palace? This is all about hatred for one man. You claim he is not a Lagosian; a man born in Lagos state, who has spent well over 50 years in Lagos State.
There are also allegations that ransoms to free kidnapped people were paid to the Seriki…
Can you swear to that? Have you investigated it? When you want to condemn somebody, you have to bring serious allegations against him. It’s just like what we’re saying about Asiwaju. He’s not a Lagosian, he’s a thief… Meanwhile, 70 percent of these people accusing him are people who came from outside Lagos. His mother, Abibatu Mogaji, never said he was not her son, so what is the problem of those who are investigating their relationship? It’s a private affair. Asiwaju is not the only person who has money in Lagos. Koro has money, Atiku has money, Dangote has money; are you saying we must not have a rich man in Lagos State? I am an indigene of Epe. I am proud of what Asiwaju has achieved for Lagos State.

Shall we then say that this interview is aimed at dousing the ethnic tension being fanned by Sunday Igboho and his boys?

Let me tell you, if we allow this Igboho issue to persist, come 2023, APC will not have access to other states. Those who are hailing and joining him do not understand that this.
But Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, who is PDP, has condemned him and even called for his arrest…

All that is charade. We who are versed in their ways know this trick.

Call it what you like, but some people who know Igboho’s background may see this battle as a way of him legitimising and reintegrating himself into the good books of his people.

That may be true but that only happens when there is a scarcity of intelligent people or when the right people refuse to speak up. Any country where criminals become heroes will never have peace. Ask yourself, where are they getting the guns from? Who is sponsoring them? Which work is Igboho doing? Mark my words, if he is not tamed, he will get out of hand.

Finally, what is your position about Fulani herdsmen carrying guns?

No, no, I cannot support that. We are in a modern day. Fulani should go and buy land, fence it and ranch their cattle. That’s what they do everywhere – Dubai, America. Anybody whop wants to buy could always come there. That’s what we should be clamouring for. The present system is even dangerous; you see cattle colliding with vehicles on the way and causing deaths. When they enter a farm, they eat everything or destroy everything. Meanwhile the farmer has spent a lot of time, energy and money on the farm.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says all is now set for the training of indigent Niger Delta youths on technical skills at Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company.

This is contained in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Ibitoye Abosede, and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

Abosede quoted the NDDC’s Interim Administrator, Efiong Akwa, as stating this after inspecting facilities at Innoson’s factory in Nnewi, Anambra.

Akwa, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Youths, Mr Udengs Eradiri, said that the training would commence at Innoson Kiara Academy, a technical and vocational institution, affiliated to Innoson.

”The youth will be trained in fabrication, assembly, painting and corrosion control, among others.

”We thought that due to the growing economy of the Niger Delta, it is important to begin to grow our own skills to be better and able to manage our economy.

”Though NDDC is already in partnership with Innoson on training of youths in different aspects of automobile maintenance, this visit is to firm up the partnership,” he said.

Akwa said that the commission decided to train the youth, with focus on setting up a vehicle manufacturing plant in the Niger Delta in the near future.

He stated that the Presidential Amnesty Programme had trained several youths from the region in the facility, with good results.

”So, we are aware that the training facility teaches skills, altitude and entrepreneurship.

”We know that if the youth learn one skill or the other, they should be able to translate it into financial gains,” he said.

Also speaking, Innoson’s Kiara Academy Chief Executive Officer, Mr Endi Ezengwa, thanked the commission for considering the facilities at Innoson motors for the training.

According to him, the region is blessed with so much talent that needed to be harnessed and channelled into constructive use, for the industrialisation of the Niger Delta zone.

”Innoson Group will, in due course, set up workshops in the Niger Delta zone, in collaboration with organisations like NDDC,” he assured.

Traders and shop owners whose goods and property were destroyed in a fire outbreak at the Bishop Okoye Street market in Mile Three axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State have appealed to Governor Nyesom Wike for support.

Similarly, a separate fire outbreak left scores of residents at the Chief Odum axis of Ogunabali in Port Harcourt were homeless as makeshift houses were destroyed.

The two fire outbreaks which occurred on Friday destroyed goods and property worth millions of Naira, as over ten shops and warehouses were destroyed, while over 20 makeshift buildings were razed in the Ogunabali fire, with those affected calling on the state government for assistance.

Our correspondent who went to the Bishop Okoye street market reports that bags of foodstuffs such as rice, beans, garri, and drinks were lost to the fire, as some of the victims were seen trying to gather some remnants.

Eyewitnesses said apart from the goods lost to the fire, hoodlums took advantage of the situation to break into some locked shops and carted away items, including cash.

Though the course of the fire could not be ascertained, eyewitnesses said they suspect that a woman who lived in one of the shops left something she was cooking unattended.

The eyewitnesses said the fire lasted for over five hours, saying the Rivers State Fire Service responded early but did not have enough water in their truck, as youths in the area also got water to help in putting out the fire just past midnight.

Speaking on the incident, Chairman of Bishop Okoye Shop Owners, Uche Okeke, decried the level of looting by the hoodlums.

“The crowd here was excess. 80 per cent of people here are not traders, some of them are hoodlums. They only came to break into peoples’ shops, stealing their goods. The fire was something that was mysterious,” he said.

Asked the number of shops burnt, he said, “We have not taken stock of the number. But I can tell you that all the warehouses in Bishop Okoye Street foodstuff market have been burnt down.

“The foodstuffs burnt are Rice, beans, garri, groundnut oil, flour and drinks were affected. Because of the looting, the Divisional Police Officer in Mile Three was here with his men and was calling for back up because of the crowd, but they didn’t come to assist him and because of that we have a lot of losses.

“The Rivers State Fire Service came, but if they had come earlier, the fire would have been stopped in one hour. Even when they came, they didn’t have enough water. We were here till past midnight.

“Some boys were here helping to stop the fire, others were here breaking into shops, even the ones that were not affected by the fire.”

One of the victims, Elder Kenan Lucky, said he lost over one thousand eight hundred bags of cement as his shop was completely burnt.

“I have about three trucks load of items here, but you can see they are all gone. What can I say, I will appreciate it if our governor can assist us financially and also help rebuild this place for us. Some bad boys went and break my other shop that was not affected in the fire and took away all the money in the safe, “he stated in an emotion-laden voice.

Efforts to reach the spokesman for the State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls put across to him by our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, some policemen on patrol arrested a man whom they said was identified as one of the suspects who looted items during the inferno.

“So they stole my laptop, microphone & audio interface from my box at the airport LMAO, y’all looking for a hit record or what?”

The Nigerian government is to establish automotive industrial parks in three states to promote local production of vehicles, Jelani Aliyu, the Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council has said.

Mr Aliyu made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to him, the parks will be sited in Nnewi in Anambra State, home to Innoson Motors, the first indigenous motor manufacturing firm in Nigeria, Ede in Osun State and Kaduna.

He said the programme is part of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan, aimed at promoting local production of vehicles.

“We are building three automotive industrial parks that will be comprehensive facilities where the necessary infrastructure will be provided and investors can easily come in and play,” he said.

“As the Federal Government is promoting local production of vehicles, key to that is creating the necessary environment, and we have done that with the automotive policy.


We are working on making it easier and more advantageous to produce vehicles locally because we believe the difference must be created between vehicles built elsewhere and those built in Nigeria.

“When you build a vehicle in Nigeria, you are giving our youths jobs, empowering Nigerians and creating better life.

“But when you bring in a fully built vehicle, you are taking resources outside Nigeria and that is not adding much value to us our economy,” he said.

Mr Aliyu said the automotive policy stipulates that cars assembled in Nigeria have zero per cent tariff for Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits and not more than 10 per cent tariff for a semi-knocked-down (SKD) kits.

He said the government was also working on a 10-year tax holiday for investors in the automotive industry.

The NADDC boss said that work was also at concluding stage in the building of automobile testing centres to ensure global standard compliant in the sector


We have finished the construction of automotive testing facilities in Lagos, Enugu, and Zaria and should be up and running this year.

“Any spare part or component that is brought or made in Nigeria must meet minimum global standard otherwise it will be deemed illegal and we won’t allow it to be sold in the Nigeria market.

“All these are steps the Federal Government is taking to ensure that the necessary environment is created in Nigeria for investors.

“We are to not to go out there to produce those vehicles but we will work closely with investors in the private sector to ensure they get the necessary support,” Mr Aliyu said.

Someone went to marry In Akwa ibom, this is the list he was given.

He ran away