The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has claimed that terrorists have infiltrated at least 40 local government areas across the South-West, warning that the region faces growing security threats.
Speaking in an interview with The Punch, Adams said his organisation had identified the presence of armed elements in several communities and had repeatedly alerted authorities over the past two years.
“We have 137 local government areas in the south-west, and we spotted not remnants of terrorists, but a lot of terrorists in no fewer than 40 local governments. We have many terrorists that have infiltrated those local government areas,” he said.
According to him, the intelligence gathered was deliberately withheld from the public because efforts were focused on engaging state governments for coordinated intervention.
“We kept that document to ourselves because we were more confident that working with state governments, which are the institutions governing the states, would yield results compared to working with law enforcement agents,” he said.
Adams expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of response from governors in the region despite attempts to initiate collaboration.
“As a result, we called for collaboration with south west state governments for the past two years… yet they didn’t call to discuss with you,” he said.
He added that the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State highlighted the need for broader security cooperation, noting that local hunters alone lack the capacity to tackle the threat.
Adams said all factions of the Oodua Peoples Congress and other regional groups would work together against criminal elements.
“All hands must be on deck to confront these criminals. You can have less potential and still know the criminals in your area. Security is not always about carrying sophisticated arms,” he said.
He argued that intelligence gathering, local knowledge, language skills and community participation remain critical in addressing insecurity.
His remarks come days after armed men attacked schools in Oriire Local Government Area, abducting pupils, students and teachers from communities within the Ogbomoso axis.
Earlier, Nigerian TikToker Olumide Ogunsanwo, popularly known as Sea King, has publicly criticised Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo over his silence following recent deadly attacks and abductions in Oyo State.
Sea King questioned Sunday Igboho’s silence despite his past strong public stance on insecurity in Yoruba land.
He accused the activist of failing to speak up or take action in the face of ongoing attacks, suggesting that his previous rhetoric about eradicating banditry in the region had not translated into results.
Tagging Igboho directly, the TikToker expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of leadership and response during a period of rising insecurity.
“Where’s Sunday_igboho1? Sunday Igboho has been paid. You said nobody should campaign in Yoruba land except Tinubu. You said you wanted to eradicate all the Fulani that are killing people from the land. Where are you now? Why are you silent?” he said in the video.