The Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, wrote a passionate letter on Tuesday to the governors of the six states in the South West, their counterparts in Kwara and Kogi states, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
The letter aimed to draw attention to the escalating insecurity in the region and the urgent need to combat kidnapping and banditry.
In his letter titled “Yorubaland Is Troubled, Darkness Looms,” which was also copied to the States Council of Obas, Adams provided a detailed analysis of the prevailing security challenges.
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This included recent heinous acts such as the killing of three Yoruba monarchs by gunmen in Ekiti and Kwara states, among other atrocities committed by what he termed “blood-thirsty maniacs.”
Adams, expressing deep concern, emphasized that “evil had entered Yorubaland,” affecting more than 60 million Yoruba residents in the South West, parts of South South, and North Central Nigeria.
He highlighted the unprecedented occurrence of three Obas being shot dead within four days, urging decisive action against the “evil in our land” without appeasement, echoing the approach taken by Yoruba progenitors.
Recalling past incidents, Adams referenced the killing of the Olufon of Ifon in 2020 and the subsequent lack of apprehension of the culprits. He lamented that the situation had worsened, with recent events mirroring the horrors of the Kiriji War.
He called for immediate and decisive action against the growing menace, comparing it to the scorched-earth policy of Adolf Hitler during World War II.
Adams urged governors and stakeholders to address the looming danger promptly, emphasizing that the escalating situation was affecting people’s freedom to travel and farm, posing a threat to the economy.
He emphasized the need to wage war against kidnapping, vowing to use his influence and resources, including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and affiliated groups, to combat the menace effectively.
Seeking an urgent meeting with the governors to discuss the security threat, Adams reiterated his readiness to flush out undesirable elements with the support of various groups under his leadership.
He emphasized the importance of coordination and assured that, with concerted efforts, insecurity could be significantly reduced across the South West within six months.
