By Peace Udugba
Yoruba traditional rulers have voiced support for the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and expressed readiness to explore indigenous spiritual and cultural methods alongside conventional security strategies to address rising insecurity in the South-West region.
According to a report by Vanguard on Saturday, June 13, 2026, the monarchs made their position known following renewed concerns over kidnapping and violent attacks, including the recent abduction and killing of a teacher in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15.
The Ooni of Ife, speaking at a cultural festival, described the worsening security situation as unacceptable and called for stronger collaboration among traditional rulers, security agencies, and government authorities. He also urged monarchs to reawaken ancestral and cultural systems of protection where necessary, within legal boundaries.
Several traditional rulers, including Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, the Olojudo of Ido, expressed support for the call, stressing the importance of combining modern security efforts with indigenous knowledge systems. He also noted that local communities have, in some cases, assisted security efforts in confronting armed threats in forest areas.
Traditionalist and cultural advocate, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, also weighed in, recommending a coordinated regional security summit that could formally integrate traditional institutions into broader security frameworks.
Similarly, the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, was quoted as saying that discussions were ongoing around community-based security initiatives involving local vigilantes operating strictly within the law.
The monarchs argued that persistent attacks, kidnappings, and ransom demands affecting rural communities and farmlands have created widespread fear, prompting renewed interest in blending cultural heritage with modern security responses.
