Igboho vows to reclaim Kwara forests from bandits

Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, has launched the Iru Ekun Security Network in Kwara State, vowing to reclaim forests from bandits and prevent them from being used as safe havens. The outfit's inauguration in Ilorin marks a significant step in Igboho's efforts to address rising insecurity in the region.

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The presence of the Iru Ekun Security Network in Kwara has already unsettled the criminals. We are heading to Babanla, which many people now describe as a stronghold of bandits.

Igboho stated that the Iru Ekun Security Network is designed to bolster the government and existing security agencies' work in tackling kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes. He announced that the network's operatives would immediately commence security operations in Babanla and revisit Eruku, two communities identified as heavily impacted by criminal activities. "We are heading to Babanla, which many people now describe as a stronghold of bandits," Igboho declared, asserting that the presence of his network had already unsettled criminals.

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Our mission in Kwara is to complement the efforts of the government and security agencies. While local communities can contribute to protecting themselves, that alone is not enough.

He stressed that the security outfit is not intended to replace the police or military but to enhance their efforts. "Our mission in Kwara is to complement the efforts of the government and security agencies," he explained. Igboho also highlighted the critical role of community collaboration, urging residents, particularly young people, to assist in exposing criminal elements and their local collaborators. He warned that bandits are not supernatural but rely on internal support, and called for community accountability and unity to confront these threats effectively.

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Bandits are not spirits. They have continued to operate because some people within our communities provide them with information and support.

Addressing concerns that the Iru Ekun Security Network might target specific ethnic groups, Igboho dismissed such claims. He insisted that the network's operations are strictly focused on criminals, regardless of their origin, and are aimed at restoring peace to the communities. "This is our ancestral land, and no criminal can force us to abandon it," he stated, underscoring a commitment to defending their homeland against those who hide in forests and threaten peace.

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This is our ancestral land, and no criminal can force us to abandon it.