The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi has organised a security summit to address the rising cases of killings, maiming, and kidnappings in the South West region.
Held on Thursday at Ile-Ife in Osun state, traditional rulers from the Southwest resolved to return to the “pristine traditional, spiritual and cultural values as a way of tackling the security challenges facing the region.”
In a communique issued at the end of the summit, the traditional rulers urged their subjects to uphold Yoruba culture and customs.
The summit called on the traditional rulers to take full control of their forests, homelands, and farmlands, where most of the criminal activities take place. They also appealed to the local, state, and federal governments to deploy drones and other appropriate technology for the effective surveillance of the Yoruba forests and roads.
It was agreed that security summits be held every quarter to monitor and evaluate the security situation in the region. They also stressed the need for collaboration and unity among the traditional rulers to “ward off the evils of banditry and kidnappings.”
The summit also called on the governors of the South West states to organise a regional security summit as soon as possible, involving all stakeholders, to chart the way forward and implement the recommendations of the current summit.
The Ooni of Ife said the summit was a “historic and timely intervention to address the security challenges facing the Yoruba nation” regardless of political or religious affiliations.
He said: “We are here to discuss the security of our people, our land and our heritage. We are here to bring back the lost glory of our forefathers, who were known for their bravery, wisdom, and integrity. We are here to revive our traditional, spiritual, and cultural values, which are the foundation of our peace and prosperity.”
The communique read in part: “The entire Obas in Yorubaland should work in unison to ward off the evils of banditry and kidnappings as each of the states could only succeed in chasing the marauders to another state.
“That any Oba who is disinterested in Yoruba culture and custom should abdicate his throne for anyone who is deeply versed and interested in Yoruba traditions.
“That each time an attack took place, the offenders were quickly left off the hook by the powers that be and that the judicial process should be strengthened to mete out appropriate punishments to culprits or bring them to justice.”
