Monarchs Charge Southwest Govs On Proactive Steps Over ISWAP, Boko Haram Influx

Traditional rulers in the southwest have called for proactive steps by the governors and security agencies, advocating that the traditional institutions be involved in efforts to rid the region of infiltrating extremists.

The Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, whose domain is located at the Ekiti and Kwara boundary with Osun, said traditional rulers must impress it on their subjects to be vigilant.

“The traditional institution is extremely important when it comes to security at Oke-Ila Orangun and Ifedayo Local Government Area axis. It is crucial because it leads to Ekiti and Kwara states, and security matters are always capital intensive.

“We are alive to our responsibility, we just want the government to know the importance of that area. Without security, we cannot talk about development.

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“We are vigilant and we tell our people to also be vigilant because internal vigilance is the greatest form of security. We are trying to make it open, and at the same time, participatory, so that people will know the importance of being alive to their responsibilities and have eagle-eye and monitor the movement of people 24 hours a day,” Oba Abolarin said.

The Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, said traditional rulers were worried about the reported influx of bandits into the southwest.

Oba Ajayi said it would be wise for the head of each community to be more proactive and take security more seriously than ever before.

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“We are alarmed and worried, we are very well concerned over this reported influx of bandits. Yes, we know who the constitutional chief security officer is, but in reality, we also know that the traditional rulers are the chief security of their respective domains.

“So, it will be wise for each domain to also do something and be more proactive about their security beyond the police and even the Amotekun. We have our own special arrangements that work with other security agencies.

“We have that intelligence as well but we are not sleeping over it. The word is eternal vigilance. We can’t afford another insurgency.

“That brings up the issue of state policing. It is part of what we should do to fight crime to a standstill in the country,” he said.

The Olowo of Owo Kingdom, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, expressed concern over the development, promising that traditional rulers would give their support to the government in taming the criminals.

Oba Ogunoye said, “The responsibility lies on the government to be more proactive in ensuring that the terrorists don’t have their ways in the South-West. The government should employ modern technology to fight criminals and root them out of their hideouts.

“On our part as traditional rulers, we will give our own support to the government, by giving proper information about criminality in our domain. We will put our ears on the ground and send useful information to the government for onward action.

“It is not a good thing for terrorists to wreak havoc in Nigeria but I believe if the political will and determination are there, the government will succeed in the fight against the criminal elements in our society.”

The Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole, called on governments in the South-West states to rise to the occasion, calling on security agencies to make the states uncomfortable for bandits.

In a chat with The PUNCH, the traditional ruler said, “With the latest reports, we (traditional rulers) will intensify our appeal to the governments to put in more efforts on security.

“Security is very important. The infiltration of these people is not a good development and will remain a setback. We have to move swiftly to check it before it becomes another thing.

“As Obas, we would meet again and call the attention of the governments. If they are fleeing the North West to this part, their settlement here would be with adverse consequences.”

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The monarch said that there had been earlier alarms and warnings from concerned individuals and groups, including the Yoruba Nation secession group that terrorists from the North were infiltrating the South-West.

He, however, said it was a good development that security agencies were apprehending some of the fleeing bandits.

“We thank God the security agencies are getting to arrest them, such should continue so that they can be flushed out of this place.

“Our security agencies and bodies should make our state uncomfortable for them. It should be like that in all other states of the southwest so that this part will be a no-go area for criminals,” he said.

Source: Punch