Gani Adams, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, has called on Southwest governors to urgently tackle the increasing threat of bandit infiltration in their states. This plea follows a recent alarm raised by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, during the 2025 annual interfaith service in Ibadan, highlighting the presence of bandits in the state.
In a statement issued by his Media Assistant, Kehinde Akinyemi, and released in Osogbo on Tuesday, Adams expressed concern over the lack of action following his previous warnings. As the National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress, he emphasized the potential consequences of ignoring Governor Makinde’s alarm.
“Oyo State is the political nerve center of the Southwest, and any security breakdown there could have widespread effects across the entire region,” Adams warned. He underscored the importance of a united and swift response to the threat and offered his collaboration to enhance security measures.
The statement outlined the efforts of the South-West Security Stakeholders Group, which includes the OPC, Agbekoya Society, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Professional Hunters, Vigilante Jahun, Agbekoya Peace Movement, and other organizations under Adams’ leadership. Despite their efforts, Adams stressed the need for a more coordinated approach following Governor Makinde’s warning.
“The alarm raised by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is a wake-up call for all the governors in the Southwest. I raised similar concerns last year, but nothing was done. Sadly, insecurity continues to escalate,” Adams stated.
He urged all Southwest governors to maintain vigilance and promptly address the security challenges in their respective states to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
