Alaafin calls for immediate security measures to safeguard villages in Kwara amid rising insecurity concerns

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has urged for immediate and decisive action to safeguard rural and border communities from the escalating threats they face, emphasizing that neglecting these areas could fuel a broader insecurity crisis.

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During high-level discussions with Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq in Ilorin, the monarch stressed that protecting vulnerable communities must be treated with the same urgency as defending major cities, highlighting the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration and timely intelligence sharing.

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According to a statement issued by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin emphasized the importance of proactive interventions, structured engagement with local communities, and enabling early warning systems to prevent attacks before they occur, underscoring the critical role of grassroots knowledge.

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The monarch noted that communities possess valuable local intelligence, while the state retains the legal authority and operational capacity to act, arguing that a fusion of both is essential to stopping terrorism in its tracks, and that this approach is vital to addressing the current security challenges.

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Accompanied by a delegation of prominent traditional rulers, including the Oloro of Oro, Olofa of Offa, Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Olomu of Omu-Aran, Olosi of Osi, Alofa of Ilofa, Olusin of Ijara-Isin, and Oranmiyan of Okoland, alongside members of the Oyo Mesi, the Alaafin said the current security climate demands sustained and well-coordinated measures.

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The Alaafin warned that only a consistent and effective security presence, backed by rapid response mechanisms, can reassure citizens that protection is not merely symbolic but real and dependable, emphasizing the need for a reliable security presence to address the concerns of rural and border communities.

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He stated, “The safety of rural and border communities must command the same seriousness and urgency as the security of our major cities,” and added, “Government must deepen intelligence gathering and preventive intervention, as security threats rarely occur in isolation, but are often organised, financed, and facilitated through networks that can and should be identified, disrupted, and prosecuted within the framework of the law.

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The Alaafin further emphasized the importance of clear, steady communication with affected communities and their traditional rulers, saying it will strengthen public trust, and that in moments of uncertainty, timely information and visible leadership help calm fears, counter misinformation, and demonstrate that government remains firmly present.

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He also said, “Where communities feel heard and guided, panic recedes; where they feel abandoned, fear multiplies,” and expressed his solidarity with Yoruba communities in the State, stating that these communities are not distant to him, but form part of their shared cultural and human fabric.

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The Alaafin urged that criminals must not be allowed to turn their ancestral homes into bargaining chips, and that terror must not be permitted to violate their farms, markets, places of worship, or the dignity of their daily work, as he has been vocal in confronting terror threats affecting parts of the South-West, particularly Yoruba communities in Kwara.

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The royal father commended Governor AbdulRasaq’s “unalloyed commitment, proactiveness, and visionary administration” in safeguarding lives and property, and the governor, in response, praised the Alaafin’s patriotism and dedication to human life, describing him as a “detribalised and visionary monarch with a heart of gold.

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Governor AbdulRasaq characterized the traditional institution as effectively a “fourth arm of government”, noting that royal leaders often resolve disputes, shape local policies, enact customary laws within their domains, and issue directives, thereby performing executive, legislative, and judicial functions simultaneously.

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The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling banditry and terrorism, assuring the monarch that his counsel would receive due consideration, as he values the concerns of traditional rulers, and is working to formalise statutory roles for traditional institutions.