Yoruba Council Worldwide condemns nationwide killings, saying the violence affects all faiths and urging justice and dialogue with President Tinubu

Yoruba Council Worldwide has condemned the spate of killings across Nigeria, stressing that the violence witnessed over the past two decades has affected citizens of all faiths, not only Christians.

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Speaking at a news conference held at the palace of the Ooni of Ife on Monday, the group’s President, Mr Oladotun Hassan, said the wave of bloodshed and insecurity had reached a disturbing level, claiming thousands of innocent lives nationwide.

Hassan emphasised that while the attacks were often framed as religiously motivated, they were in fact acts of terrorism targeting Nigerians regardless of belief.

“We clarify that the gruesome killings in Nigeria over the last two decades are not exclusively targeted at Christians, but have affected Muslims, Christians and adherents of other faiths alike,” he said.

“We condemn these killings in strong terms and insist that all perpetrators, financiers and enablers of terrorism must be brought to justice without delay.”

The YCW President called on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to facilitate diplomatic engagement with President Bola Tinubu on the pressing issues of national security and the economy.

In a separate statement, the group accused some unions within the petroleum sector including PENGASSAN, NUPENG, IPMAN and DAPPMAN of allegedly collaborating with oil import cabals and certain officials of NNPCL and NMDPRA to undermine the operations of the Dangote Refinery.

The council praised Aliko Dangote’s ₦2 trillion investment in the purchase of 10,000 tanker trucks for nationwide product distribution, describing it as a bold act of patriotism and service.

To safeguard domestic energy investments, YCW proposed a “Crude Exploration Nationalisation Policy Synergy Scheme” that would ensure a consistent crude oil supply to the Dangote Refinery and other local facilities.

The group also urged the Federal Government to impose higher import tariffs or consider a full ban on imported petroleum products to protect Nigeria’s refining sector and promote industrial sustainability.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group announced plans for a “Grand Solidarity and Thank You Rally” in support of the Dangote Group and Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

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According to the organisers, the rally will take place on 12 November at JJT Park, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, with participants expected to wear white shirts and jeans as symbols of peace, unity and patriotism.