The Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, has called on governors in the South-West region to urgently address the growing security threats posed by bandits infiltrating their states.
Adams’ appeal follows a warning from the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who disclosed during the 2025 annual interfaith service in Ibadan on Monday that bandits fleeing military operations in the North-West had found refuge in forests within Oyo State.
In a statement issued in Osogbo on Tuesday by his Media Assistant, Kehinde Akinyemi, Adams, who also serves as the National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), cautioned that failure to act on Makinde’s revelations could lead to severe consequences for the region.
Highlighting the deteriorating security landscape across the country, Adams expressed concern over the increasing activities of bandits and kidnappers targeting the South-West.
“The alarm raised by Governor Seyi Makinde is a wake-up call for all the governors in the South-West,” Adams noted. “I raised similar concerns last year, but little was done, and sadly, insecurity has continued to escalate.”
Adams commended the efforts of the South-West Security Stakeholders Group, which includes the OPC, Agbekoya Society, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Professional Hunters, Vigilante Jahun, and Agbekoya Peace Movement. He emphasized their commitment to maintaining regional security but stressed the need for more coordinated action.
Adams underscored the strategic importance of Oyo State, describing it as the political hub of the South-West.
“Oyo State is the political capital of the South-West, and any security breach there will have significant ripple effects across the entire region,” he warned.
He urged all South-West governors to prioritize vigilance and adopt proactive measures to address emerging security threats.
Adams extended a hand of collaboration to state governments, offering the support of his group to bolster the region’s security infrastructure.
“The time to act is now,” he stressed, calling for an urgent, united response to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
Governor Makinde’s revelations and Adams’ warnings have heightened calls for action to curb the infiltration of bandits into the South-West, signaling the need for immediate and effective interventions.
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