Gani Adams Raises Alarm Over Insecurity in South-West, Says Terror Networks Have Entered Yorubaland

Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has warned that terrorist sleeper cells are spreading across the South-West, declaring that Yorubaland is no longer safe and urging governors to take urgent coordinated action against kidnappers and armed groups.

The warning followed last Friday’s attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where gunmen abducted 39 pupils and students, including a two-year-old child, along with seven teachers. One teacher was reportedly killed during the invasion, while another was beheaded in captivity.

The incident has triggered fear across several communities, with many residents abandoning their homes over concerns that terrorists are gradually establishing operational bases in the region.

Security experts say the danger now extends beyond terrorists hiding in forests, pointing instead to sleeper cells operating quietly inside communities. According to analysts, such groups blend into society by renting apartments, opening businesses and cultivating local relationships while gathering intelligence and waiting for instructions before carrying out attacks.

Experts warned that these hidden networks study security routines, identify vulnerable targets and build logistical support systems long before violence occurs.

Reacting to the situation, Hassan Oladotun, President of the Yoruba Council Worldwide, said the attack in Oyo confirmed that “Yorubaland is no longer safe.”

He called on South-West governors to put politics aside and jointly confront the growing threat posed by bandits and terrorists.

Oladotun argued that the Amotekun Corps appeared to have lost focus, noting that criminal groups had become increasingly bold in moving operations into parts of Oyo and other South-West states.

Traditional ruler Chief Adebayo Amos Abiade also expressed concern over what he described as the growing vulnerability of forests in the region.

He said local hunters, forest guards and community vigilantes possess indigenous knowledge and tracking skills that should be integrated into broader security efforts.

Former Ondo SDP chairman Stephen Adewale stressed that effective security now requires more than checkpoints and patrol vehicles.

According to him, governments must prioritise intelligence gathering, forest surveillance, rapid response systems and proper mapping of vulnerable schools and border communities.

Human rights activist Nelson Ekujumi described the current security climate as “frightening,” urging governments and citizens to work together because “security is everybody’s business.”

Security consultant Job Inegbenijie criticised the existing response-based approach, saying attacks often occur before security agencies arrive.

“We need proactive anti-intrusion and anti-terrorist systems that can protect schools, farmlands and vulnerable communities,” he said.

Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwagunma, said the Oyo school abduction exposed serious gaps in intelligence sharing, emergency coordination and rural security coverage.

He warned that forests and remote communities were increasingly being used as hideouts and transit routes by armed groups moving from other parts of the country.

Dr Hashim Saludeen advised South-West governors to identify and monitor vulnerable border communities, warning that criminal groups are now deploying surveillance technology and coordinated intelligence before attacks.

Another security expert, Dr Timi Ajayi, said many attackers infiltrate communities years before launching operations.

“Some may have settled within communities for years, studying the environment and gaining trust before attacks happen,” he stated.

The growing fears have also extended to Lagos after reports emerged that DSS operatives arrested two suspected ISWAP fighters in Apapa in December 2025. In January 2026, bomb threat messages were also reportedly sent to two schools in Ikeja GRA, although no explosives were eventually found.

Security analyst Damian Osondu said major cities like Lagos provide anonymity for extremist elements because “people disappear more easily where movement never stops.”

Despite the concerns, Lagos authorities said the state had strengthened its security infrastructure through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, including investment in operational vehicles, surveillance support and rapid response systems.

In his statement titled “Yorubaland is troubled, darkness looms,” Gani Adams said kidnappings and killings had become a direct threat to the Yoruba people and economy.

“Our people can no longer go to their farms,” he said, adding that “evil has entered Yorubaland.”

Adams referenced the 2020 killing of the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adeusi, as well as the recent killings of traditional rulers in Ekiti and Kwara states, describing the incidents as unprecedented.

“Never in the history of Yoruba were three Obas shot dead in a spate of four days,” he said.

The OPC leader maintained that he possesses the structure and manpower needed to confront criminal elements in the region.

“Aside the Oodua Peoples Congress which has solid network in all the wards, villages, towns and cities in Yorubaland, I also control 13 other groups working with the OPC,” Adams said.

He explained that although his network already has “troops and logistics” to tackle insecurity, he would require the cooperation and permission of South-West governors before taking action.

“I can assure you that within six months, insecurity will reduce drastically across Southwest,” Adams declared, while calling for an urgent regional security meeting with governors and traditional rulers.

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