According to a report by Punch on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has raised concerns over what he described as the lack of response from South-West governors to repeated warnings and proposals aimed at improving regional security.
He said the situation has become more troubling due to increasing cases of kidnapping and banditry reported in different parts of the region.
According to him, efforts to encourage a coordinated security approach have not received the level of attention he expected from state authorities in the South-West.
Adams made the comments on Tuesday while reacting to the recent attack in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where armed men reportedly invaded a school and abducted pupils, students, and teachers.
During the incident, one of the teachers was said to have been killed by the attackers.
The development added to existing concerns about the safety of schools and communities in parts of the region where insecurity has continued to pose a challenge for residents and local authorities.
While speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, the Yoruba traditional leader described the incident as unfortunate and a reminder of the need for stronger security measures.
He stated that the attack should not be treated as an isolated event, but rather as part of a broader pattern showing that criminal groups were becoming more active and bold in their operations across the South-West.
He added that the nature of recent incidents indicates that insecurity is gradually expanding beyond previously affected areas.
According to him, cases of kidnapping had already been recorded in different states within the region, but the latest mass abduction involving schoolchildren and teachers showed a new level of risk that should not be ignored.
He explained that criminal activities were no longer limited to remote areas, as they were now affecting communities that were previously considered relatively safe.
He maintained that this development should prompt stronger coordination among security stakeholders at different levels of government.
Adams further stated that he had consistently raised concerns about the activities of criminal elements operating within the region.
He explained that he had also taken steps to formally communicate with South-West governors, urging them to work more closely with traditional rulers, community leaders, and socio-cultural organizations in addressing security challenges.
According to him, such collaboration would help strengthen the region’s security structure and improve response to threats affecting communities across different states.
He said, “I had written to the South-West governors that there is a need for collaboration on the issue of security; all hands must be on deck on these issues. But for the past two years, they have not replied to me.”….Read_More…