Insecurity: Gani Adams calls for Amotekun-style security in Kwara, Kogi

Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, has called on Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State and Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State to create state security outfits, like Amotekun in the South-West, to combat the increasing attacks by bandits on the two states.

The Yoruba generalissimo made the call while speaking at the 2025 edition of the Kakanfo Festival in Ifo, Ogun State, saying that such move would greatly complement the Federal security structure in the two states.

Besides, Iba Adams, who quickly recalled the recent attacks by suspected bandits in Babanla area of Kwara State leading to loss of lives, said putting in place such security setup would help stop the incursion of bandits into the South-West region through the two states, which appeared to be like security loopholes at the moment.

This was just as he warned that failure to do something to urgently address the situation in the two states would degenerate to a level where it would negatively affect the economic nerves of the nation.

Iba Adams, while sounding the note of warning, observed that the level of insecurity across the country had reached an alarming level, with many citizens unable to go about their daily activities without fear, sadly noting that insecurity had now become a matter deserving the utmost urgent response from governments at all levels.

The Yoruba generalissimo stressed the need “to urgently do something about what is happening in Kwara and Kogi states and parts of Ondo, Oyo and Ogun States,” even as he highlighted some border towns in Niger State as flashpoints.

“The safety and security of Nigerians are fundamental to the prosperity, stability, and development of this nation. Without peace and security, our efforts towards economic growth, social cohesion, and democratic governance will continuously be severely undermined.

“Today, insecurity manifests in incidents of banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, communal clashes and the like. The recent attacks by suspected bandits in Babanla area of Kwara State leading to loss of lives is a fresh reminder of the urgent need to put a stop to all shades of insecurity across the land,” he said.

Iba Adams urged state governors to embrace collaboration with other stakeholders on the issue of security, saying that all hands must be on deck to tackle insecurity decisively and flush out criminal elements from their hideouts.

“We do not need to make too much of noise on social media before we tackle the criminals in our environment. Security is about strategy, structure, and strength of your team that can meet up with the geographical spread of the area you want to secure.

“Security is about the level of sincerity and commitment of the team you are leading, and which you can trust to lay down their lives for Yoruba land. Security is not a job you can give to a stark illiterate. It is a job for someone with the intellectual capacity, that knows how to use modern equipment, that knows how to keep Intel within the hierarchy of his group,” he stated.

Iba Adams, who is also the National Coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), however, said he was ready to lead his network of security stakeholders to assist with tackling insecurity in the South-West if the state governors were ready for such collaboration.

“We have written more than three letters to the authorities on the need for collaboration. If the governors are ready, we are equally ready. We cannot just intrude into the security framework of Yoruba land except we have the clearance to do so, otherwise we could be labelled as common criminal.

“With the Southwest Security Stakeholders Group, we have the network and intelligence necessary to support the current security framework in the region to achieve the utmost result,” he said.

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