Ibadan Compounds Peace and Security Initiatives, (ICPI) ,The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Mogajis in Ibadanland, Monarchs, Baales and other stakeholders in Ibadanland has called on Southwest Governors, Federal Government and security agencies to protect the region against bandits and terrorists who are coming to the region and amid growing concerns over infiltration of these groups into the Southwest region.
Recall that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State recently raised the alarm about bandits escaping military pressure from the North – Central and relocating to his state.
Though the Southwest governors have responded by intensifying security efforts, including setting up a joint special security outfit to combat banditry and other crimes in the region.
But Ibadan stakeholders described the recent killing of Yorubas and others in some parts of Kwara State as a signal that the southwest is gradually going under siege.
A statement jointly signed by President of Ibadan Mogaji’s, Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori and Coordinator of Ibadan Compound Peace Initiatives (ICPI), Mogaji Dr Nurudeen Akinade lamented resurgence of bandits in some part of southwest states.
The duo said the issue should be a concern to Southwest governors, federal government and security agencies.
They urged governors of the six southwest states, federal government and security agencies to as a matter of urgency come to the aid of southwest states before the issue get out of hand.
According to them, if bandits can killed Yoruba people in some areas of Kwara State, if shows that the entire Yorubaland is under siege.
“We want to alert all our Kabiyesis, Traditional Chiefs, Mogajis, Baales, Market men and Women, all political stakeholders including members of the House of Assembly, House of Representatives members, Senators and governor across the Southwest zone and security agencies to take proactive measures towards curbing the crimes and criminality.”
The statement emphasized on need for intelligence gathering, adding that security agencies should be alive to their responsibility in protecting lives and property of residents in the region.
“Government must ensure that Ibadan, Oyo State and southwest is well protected.
“With the advent of some suspected bandits who attacked some communities in Kwara State, which has led to killing of many people, people in Southwest region should not keep quiet but raise alarm.
“Ibadan and Oyo State at large is very big, and we share boundaries with Kwara State and other towns and Cities, we might not know if these bandits come inside Ibadan.
“We might not quickly discovered their presence due to hospitability nature, big size, villages and forest arena of Ibadan if these bandits run into Ibadan for cover.
The statement also called on traditional institution to work underground with their own internal security mechanism so as to expose the bandits and get rid of them.
“As for us in Ibadan Compound Peace Initiatives (ICPI), we have been working underneath, with clear intelligence gathering with organised security agencies. Security strategies are better not discussed in the open. We have been discharging our duties many years back and it has been working for us and Ibadanland.”
