Yoruba monarchs use traditional ways to protect southwest from bandits | read details
Following the infiltration of bandits, Boko Haram and ISWAP members in the South-West, monarchs in the zone say they have activated the traditional means of securing the zone.
The traditional rulers also vowed to ensure that the South West would not be a haven for bandits or insurgents.
When asked what steps the monarchs are taking to curb the rising insecurity and influx of bandits, the Chairman, Council of Chiefs in Ondo State, the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, said they are providing traditional support to address insecurity.
The monarch, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Michael Adeleye said: “The influx of bandits into some parts of Southwest as raised by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is a pointer to the fact that the Military is seriously working and their efforts at flushing out bandits from the country is yielding the desired results.
“However, with the recent information of their possible influx into the southwest, let me say categorically that the South West cannot be a haven for any bandit group being displaced from far away north.
“The traditional institutions are working with the South-West Governors to ensure that our area is secured.
“On our part, we are reaching out to all our Olus and Chiefs in the forest reserve areas to look out for any strange faces and ensure that they do not allow their subjects or residents of their various communities from harbouring strange faces.
Also speaking with Vanguard, the chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Ruler. Oba Olori Faboro, said though Ekiti has been peaceful, the fear of invasion only exist in the social media.
Oba Faboro said: “We have taken enough steps, we have Amotekun here and about this time last year, the Governor set up the Agro Marshall, and they patrol our farms. The incident of kidnapping here is not the way it was before over a year ago.
“The police have been doing a fantastic job. All these social media news, I don’t subscribe to them.”
Stressing the need for constant collaboration between government and traditional rulers to tackle the menace, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, said: “We must all be vigilant. The Federal Government must be in constant dialogue with traditional rulers to check the menace. We are the ones in the rural areas, we know the terrain; we know the people”.
The Okere of Sakiland, Oba Khalid Olabisi, equally said that steps are being taken to curb the influx of bandits and prevent the rise in insecurity in his domain,
Oba Olabisi, in a telephone interview with Vanguard, said: “We have established community vigilance groups to monitor and report suspicious activities fostering a culture of awareness among residents.
“We are collaborating closely with local law enforcement and military units; we ensure effective communication and rapid response to threats.
On his part, the Eselu of Iselu Kingdom in Yewa North local government area of Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi said with the present Constitution operated in Nigeria, the traditional rulers do not have any power to check insecurity but urged the government to do the needful in securing their territory.
Oba Akinyemi said: “Due to the porosity of the nation’s border, the government must inform all the security agencies at the border to be on alert.”
VANGUARD
