Traditional rulers from the South-West gathered in Ile-Ife, Osun State, to discuss the escalating insecurity issues affecting the region. They highlighted the organized nature of attacks on Yoruba traditional rulers and prominent individuals, expressing concerns about herdsmen’s expansionist tendencies in Yorubaland.
Representatives from Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Ogun states, including prominent leaders such as the Ooni of Ife and the Olowo of Owo, emphasized the urgency of finalizing plans for the creation of State Police to enhance regional security. They urged the Federal Government to uphold its commitment to operationalize state police, underscoring the paramount importance of securing their subjects.
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, called for collaborative efforts among South-West monarchs to combat insecurity effectively. He stressed the necessity of engaging local security groups and advocating for true federalism to establish a robust federal structure for efficient policing.
In a joint communique, the traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife and Akarigbo of Remo, attributed the attacks by herdsmen to food insecurity and scarcity in the region.
They urged Yoruba Obas to leverage natural resources and traditional powers to counter banditry and kidnapping while maintaining and upholding traditional values. Additionally, the communique called for the recognition of the roles of traditional rulers in the national security architecture and emphasized the need for a strengthened judicial process to ensure justice for offenders