The Aare onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has urged Southwest governors to urgently address the growing security threats of bandits infiltrating their states.
Naija News reports that Gani made the plea after the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, during the 2025 annual interfaith service in Ibadan on Monday, raised the alarm over bandits operations in the state.
In a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Kehinde Akinyemi and released in Osogbo on Tuesday, Gani Adams said he had raised similar concerns last year, but nothing was done.
Adams, the National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress, warned that ignoring Makinde’s revelation could have dire consequences for the region.
He described Oyo State as the political nerve centre of the South-West, warning that any security breakdown could have ripple effects across the entire region.
Adams also offered to collaborate with state governments to strengthen the security architecture, adding that governors should act promptly.
The statement read, “The alarm raised by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is a wake-up call for all the governors in the South-West. I raised similar concerns last year, but nothing was done. Sadly, insecurity has continued to escalate.
“The South-West Security Stakeholders Group, including the OPC, Agbekoya Society, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Professional Hunters, Vigilante Jahun, Agbekoya Peace Movement, and others under my leadership, have been working tirelessly to ensure the safety of the region.
“However, now that Governor Makinde has sounded the alarm, it is imperative for a more urgent and coordinated approach to tackle the issue before it spirals out of control.
“Oyo State is the political capital of the South-West, and whatever happens there will undoubtedly affect the entire region.
“I urge all South-West governors to remain vigilant and address the security challenges in their respective states promptly.”