Insecurity: Olubadan Calls For Vigilance In South West

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has urged Yoruba people to be conscious of the growing threats posed by bandits and terrorists from the Northern part of the country to the security of the region.

The traditional ruler particularly drew the attention of the people to the recent incursion of bandits to Kawara and Kogi state, North Central Nigeria, calling on the south west leaders to wake up to the reality of the threats to the region by these criminals.

Oba Ladoja urged the leaders of the region to pay attention to this threat with the intention of addressing it.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide,  Adeola Oloko, the traditional ruler made the call in Ode-Omu, Osun State, during the weekend celebration of Ode-Omu Day.

“Let me use this occasion to urge Yoruba people to be vigilant amid security challenges facing Nigeria,” Ladoja said.

The magazine reports that marauding bandits have recently stepped up their attacks on Kwara and Kogi, the two northern states with proximity to the south west, as analysts insist that their target is the south west.

Two weeks ago, the six state governors in the region met in Abeokuta , Ogun state where they announced a series of security, economic and administrative measures aimed at strengthening safety and development across the region.

In a communique the governors issued after the meeting, they agreed to set up a security trsut fund apart from sharing intelligence with the aim to make ensuring safety in the region.

The communiqué outlined several security-focused decisions, including a regional fund and a new tech-driven intelligence network.

“South West Regional Security Fund: The Forum agreed to set up a South West Security Fund (SWSF) under DAWN Commission to be administered by the Forum of Special Advisers on Security of all South West States and to meet monthly.

“Joint Security Intelligence Sharing and Communication Platform: The forum resolves to establish a live, digital intelligence-sharing platform among all six South West states (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti). This platform will exchange threat notifications, incident logs, traveller and cargo alerts and coordinate state-to-state rapid response,” part of the communique read.