Leaders and stakeholders in Ibadanland have raised an alarm over the growing infiltration of bandits and terrorists into the Southwest region, calling on state governors, the Federal Government, and security agencies to take urgent action to protect the region.
The call was made in a joint statement issued by the President of Ibadan Mogajis, Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori, and the Coordinator of the Ibadan Compound Peace Initiatives (ICPI), Mogaji Dr. Nurudeen Akinade.
The statement was also supported by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), monarchs, Baales, and other community leaders.
The stakeholders described the recent killing of Yoruba people and others in parts of Kwara State as a warning sign that the Southwest could be slipping under siege. They lamented the resurgence of violent attacks in some areas, stressing that the development should concern all levels of government.
They urged governors of the six Southwest states, alongside federal authorities and security agencies, to act swiftly before the situation deteriorates further.
‘If bandits can kill Yoruba people in parts of Kwara State, it shows that the entire Yorubaland is under threat,’ the statement read. ‘We call on all our Kabiyesis, traditional chiefs, Mogajis, Baales, market men and women, and political stakeholders – including lawmakers and governors across the Southwest – to take proactive steps to curb rising criminality.’
The statement further emphasized the importance of intelligence gathering and proactive security measures. It warned that due to Ibadan’s vast land area and proximity to Kwara State, bandits fleeing from security operations could easily take cover within its forests and villages.
‘Government must ensure that Ibadan, Oyo State, and the entire Southwest are well protected. People in the region must not remain silent but raise the alarm to prevent infiltration,’ it added.
The leaders also called on traditional institutions to strengthen internal security networks to identify and expose criminal elements.
‘As part of the Ibadan Compound Peace Initiatives, we have been working discreetly with organized security agencies through intelligence gathering. Security strategies are better not discussed openly, but we have continued to discharge our duties effectively to safeguard Ibadanland,’ the statement concluded.