Unity, collaboration key to end insecurity in South-west — Gani Adams, others

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has identified unity of purpose and stronger stakeholders’ collaboration as crucial to ending insecurity and the destruction of lives and property in the Southwest.

Adams stressed the need for coordinated action among all actors in the security architecture, noting that fragmented efforts have weakened intelligence gathering, information sharing and rapid response across the region.

“There has been weak coordination among security actors, occasioned by poor collaboration between government security agencies, local vigilantes, traditional institutions and civil society,” he said.

He called on leaders at all levels, governors, local government chairpersons, traditional rulers and community heads to come together to decisively confront the region’s security challenges.

Adams spoke at a virtual International Conference titled “The Importance of Unity in Strengthening Security and Preventing Genocide in Yorubaland,” organised by Yoruba One Voice (YOV) Worldwide.

According to him, unity remains the foundation of peace and security.

He said, “When we unite, we create a formidable force that can effectively safeguard our communities. Unity fosters regional cohesion, intelligence sharing, community vigilance and mutual support, making it difficult for any group to sow discord or perpetrate violence.”

He added that cooperation is essential to preventing conflicts from escalating into genocide or mass atrocities.

Adams commended the Southwest governors for approving the Southwest Security Fund (SWSF) and a joint intelligence-sharing system, describing the move as a long-awaited response to calls for greater regional collaboration.

“With the joint security fund now approved, the region will be better equipped to raise the huge resources required to fight terrorists,” he said.

He also urged the governors to extend support to Yoruba-speaking communities in Kogi and Kwara States, who he said are experiencing targeted attacks.

“We cannot allow terrorists to create immense collateral damage in the Southwest. About 50 to 60 per cent of national investments and monuments are domiciled here. If we do not defend them, future generations will blame us,” he warned.

Similarly, the Parakoyi Aare Ona Kakanfo, Prof. Kolawole Raheem, called for collective action against bandits who, according to him, are determined to displace Yoruba people and seize their lands. 

He also condemned what he described as political genocide, accusing some political actors of dispossessing vulnerable citizens through state-backed mechanisms.

Guest speaker, Prof. Adetayo Olurotimi Ogunlewe, lamented the systematic targeting of Yorubaland through kidnappings, killings and displacement. He warned that failure to address these developments could lead to widespread atrocities.

Ogunlewe urged security agencies to launch decisive operations against bandits and terrorists.

Earlier in his welcome address, YOV Secretary General, Prince Adedokun Ademiluyi, said the scale of insecurity in Yorubaland had reached alarming levels, necessitating urgent strategic action.

YOV member Iyalode Abike Ade, speaking from the United Kingdom, called for stronger advocacy locally and internationally to raise awareness about actions that may encourage or lead to genocide against Yoruba communities. She also urged support for grassroots initiatives that strengthen traditional security structures within human-rights-compliant frameworks.

Participants recommended the establishment of a Yoruba Security Coordination Framework to improve cooperation among vigilantes, state security agencies, traditional rulers and community networks, regular security stakeholder meetings to exchange ideas on tackling insecurity and the adoption of a joint intelligence-sharing system across the region.

They are calling for the urgent implementation of community policing to enhance local security response.

Attendees included Yoruba leaders and representatives from Nigeria, Canada, Sweden, Germany, the U.S., the U.K., Senegal and Mali.

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