Alaafin visits Kwara, seeks cross-border cooperation to tackle terrorism

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has underscored the critical need for a unified approach to national security, advocating for stronger collaboration between agencies and communities. During a courtesy visit to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in Ilorin, the respected monarch articulated a vision for security management that prioritizes synergy, timely intelligence, and community engagement.

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The safety of rural and border communities must command the same seriousness and urgency as the security of our major cities.

Oba Owoade highlighted that effective security is a shared responsibility, requiring the seamless integration of local insights with the robust capacity of government authorities. He stressed that the safety of rural and border communities, often vulnerable to security breaches, must be treated with the same urgency as that of major urban centers. This call resonates deeply within Nigeria, where vast rural expanses can be challenging to police effectively.

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Government must deepen intelligence gathering and preventive intervention. Beyond responsive measures, enhanced intelligence and preventive strategies are critical.

The monarch’s emphasis on deepening intelligence gathering and preventive interventions signals a proactive stance against the organized, financed, and facilitated networks that often underpin security threats. He argued that identifying and disrupting these networks is crucial, moving beyond mere responsive measures. Furthermore, Oba Owoade stressed the importance of clear and consistent communication with affected communities and their traditional rulers, noting that timely information and visible leadership can quell fears and counter misinformation, thereby strengthening public trust.

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Clear, steady communication with affected communities and with their traditional rulers will also strengthen public trust. In moments of uncertainty, timely information and visible leadership help calm fears, counter misinformation, and demonstrate that government remains firmly present.

Expressing solidarity with Yoruba communities in Kwara State, the Alaafin affirmed their shared cultural and historical heritage, vowing that criminals must not be allowed to destabilize these ancestral homes. Governor AbdulRazaq, in turn, commended the Alaafin's commitment to peace and security, assuring that the Kwara State government would continue to prioritize security and value the input of the traditional institution in its governance processes.

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The Alaafin stands with Yoruba communities in the state, and we identify with them. These are not distant places to us; they form part of our shared cultural and human fabric, communities bound to us by history, kinship, and longstanding civilisational ties.