By Adeola Badru

Traditional rulers across the South-West are set to hold a high-level security meeting with Yoruba nation activist and founder of the Iru Ekun Security Network, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, in a fresh move to strengthen regional security and protect rural communities from criminal threats.

The crucial stakeholders’ meeting, scheduled for Friday in Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti State, is being hosted by the Owa Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, and will be led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

A statement issued by the Igboho Media Office on Friday said the meeting would focus extensively on security in Yorubaland, particularly measures to sustain the prevailing peace and communal stability across the South-West.

The meeting is expected to bring together monarchs from Oyo, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun and parts of Kwara State, alongside other stakeholders in the security sector.

According to the statement, “This crucial meeting to be graced by all monarchs from Oyo, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, and parts of Kwara State will be presided over by the Co-Chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who also doubles as the Permanent Chairman of Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC).”

The statement said the gathering would seek to develop stronger security measures for the region while establishing closer cooperation between traditional institutions and local security initiatives, including the Iru Ekun Security Network.

It added: “This stakeholders meeting will dwell extensively on the measures aimed at ensuring effective security of the South West and synergy with local security initiatives such as Iru Ekun Security Network in order to protect Yorubaland, most especially rural communities against any breach.”

The organisers said traditional rulers would also examine ways of playing a more active role in local security, stressing that their proximity to the grassroots placed them in a strategic position to prevent crises and resolve disputes.

“The meeting will also discuss extensively on the active involvement of traditional rulers in local security bearing in mind their closeness to the grassroot and their critical roles in the prevention of crisis and management of disputes between Yoruba ethnic nationalities and other tribes in South West communities,” the statement said.

The meeting is coming amid continued concerns over insecurity in parts of the country and the need for stronger collaboration between formal security agencies, traditional institutions and community-based security initiatives.

The Igboho Media Office also commended the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police and other security agencies for what it described as their “enormous support” for the Iru Ekun Security Network.

It assured that the network would continue to work with relevant stakeholders in the security sector to consolidate the prevailing peace and safety across the South-West.

“We want to assure that we will continue to cooperate with all stakeholders in the security sector to sustain prevailing peace and safety in the South West,” the statement said.

The statement specifically acknowledged the efforts of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd); the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu; the Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi; and other heads of paramilitary agencies.

“We want to specifically appreciate the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, DG DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, and other heads of paramilitary agencies for their visible efforts, which had culminated in drastic reduction of cases insecurity and other criminalities in Nigeria,” it added.