OONI SOUNDS ALARM: YORUBA MONARCHS MUST LEAD FIGHT AGAINST BANDITRY

The Ooni of Ife has called on traditional rulers across Yorubaland to take a more active role in combating banditry and other security threats affecting their communities.
Speaking on the growing insecurity in parts of the region, the revered monarch urged Yoruba kings to deploy lawful traditional structures and community-based mechanisms to strengthen local security and intelligence gathering.
According to the Ooni, traditional institutions remain powerful instruments for maintaining peace, resolving conflicts, and mobilising communities against criminal activities.
He stressed that the fight against banditry cannot be left to security agencies alone, noting that traditional rulers possess valuable local knowledge that can help identify and isolate criminal elements.
The monarch also called for closer collaboration between traditional institutions, community leaders, and security agencies to protect lives and property across the region.
His remarks come amid rising concerns over kidnappings, bandit attacks, and other security challenges in parts of the South-West.