Self-determination groups in the Southwest region, under the umbrella of the Yoruba Assembly, have raised strong concerns over the escalating security challenges plaguing the region.
At the forefront of their demands is the urgent establishment of State Police as the only viable solution to combat rising cases of kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes.
The call was made on Thursday during a two-day summit tagged “Western Nigeria Global Summit on Security and Livelihood, Lagos-Jebba-Warri,” which was held in Lagos and attended by prominent figures and delegates from across the region.
During the summit, leaders of the Assembly appealed directly to Southwest governors to support the constitutional backing and establishment of State Police, citing the alarming insecurity that continues to claim lives and disrupt livelihoods across the region.
Speakers at the event included Lead Convener, Comrade Wale Oshun; Comrade Adewale Adeoye; Rasaq Olokooba; Prince Eniola Ojajuni, President of Afenifere National Youth Council; Comrade Akinpelu Adesina; Deji Omotoyinbo; and Dr. Olatunde Hamzat, among others. They unanimously emphasized the need for Yoruba unity in addressing the worsening state of security.
The summit stressed that state governors and local government chairmen must step up as Chief Security Officers (CSOs) of their respective domains, taking full responsibility for the protection of lives and property. Participants insisted that any government official who fails to ensure security in their territory should be held accountable.
In his keynote address, Comrade Wale Oshun highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that the region is grappling with senseless killings and systemic threats to its security and economy. In a solemn moment, he called for a minute of silence in honour of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, a vocal advocate for regional security.
Oshun cited intelligence reports revealing that Fulani herdsmen involved in kidnapping operations are believed to have established 53 camps within forests across the Southwest. He described the situation as alarming and deeply troubling.
He further disclosed that over ₦2.2 trillion was paid in ransom to kidnappers over the past year, with a significant portion of the funds suspected to have come from victims in the Southwest. Notably, more than 77 percent of those kidnapped were from rural communities—a development that has forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands out of fear.
According to Oshun, the establishment of State Police has become not just a necessity but a critical strategy for reclaiming the region’s security. “Only State Police can truly secure our communities, given their knowledge of the terrain and the people,” he stated.
Echoing Oshun’s concerns, Comrade Adewale Adeoye lamented the devastating impact of insecurity on the region’s once-thriving forests and agricultural sector. He explained that the forests, which were previously a valuable resource for livelihood, have now become unsafe due to the activities of what he called “armed invaders and nomadic terrorists.”
“For the past 15 years, agricultural production has suffered a steady decline. Going to the farm has become a life-threatening risk,” Adeoye noted.
The summit concluded with a strong resolution calling on all relevant stakeholders, particularly Southwest governors, to actively push for the legal and structural framework needed to establish State Police as a regional security solution.
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