Leaders in the South-West, under the banner of the South-West Security Stakeholders Summit, have endorsed the creation of state police and the death penalty for kidnappers as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
The summit, themed “Towards a United Front Against Insecurity in Yorubaland”, was held Tuesday in Lagos and hosted by the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, alongside other Yoruba leaders.
In a communique signed by Adams, Prof. Kolawole Raheem, and Amitolu Shittu, participants pledged to pursue a coordinated and inclusive approach to crime prevention, conflict resolution, and peace restoration across the region. They warned of “an unrelenting attempt by jihadists to complete the conquest of sub-Saharan West Africa, which they started in the 1800s by violent conquest.”
The leaders described kidnapping and banditry as a “hydra-headed monster” designed to instill fear, raise funds for war, and facilitate ethnic cleansing and land grabs.
Among their resolutions, they called for:
- Immediate establishment of state police in all South-West states, with recruitment focused on indigenous people and integration of modern technologies such as drones and surveillance tools.
- A global volunteer programme, enabling Yoruba professionals abroad to contribute to specialized units within the state police.
- Improved welfare for local operatives, including pensions, insurance, rank progression, and a Security Welfare Fund supported by citizens and the diaspora.
- A ban on open grazing, with cattle transportation restricted to vehicles and rail, and legislation to establish ranches supported by the Bank of Agriculture.
- Protective border fences and walls along Nigeria’s frontiers with Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin Republic.
The communique also expressed support for foreign assistance in fighting kidnappers and terrorists, provided Nigeria’s sovereignty and international laws are respected.
Leaders urged Yoruba youths to cooperate with security agencies and called on South-West governors to work closely with traditional rulers, including those in Kwara and Kogi states. They further demanded constitutional responsibilities for traditional rulers to strengthen intelligence gathering within their domains.
