The Akeem Owoade, Oba Akeem Owoade, has called on the Federal Government to adopt a more comprehensive approach to intelligence gathering and community-based security measures in tackling insecurity across the country.
The monarch made the call on Sunday following a deadly attack by suspected terrorists on communities in Oyo State, including an invasion of a school in Oriire Local Government Area where pupils and a teacher were abducted.
In a statement issued through his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the Alaafin said the increasing cases of killings, kidnappings and destruction by armed groups had become unbearable and required urgent action.
The monarch spoke against the backdrop of Friday’s coordinated attacks on four villages in the Ogbomoso area of the state.
The affected communities were Ahoro-Esinle, Alawusa, Yawota and Oniya, all located within Oriire Local Government Area.
During the attack, gunmen reportedly stormed the Esinle School where two persons were killed, a vehicle was burnt and more than 45 pupils alongside a teacher were abducted and taken into the forest around the Old Oyo National Park.
The incident has created fear and panic among residents of the affected communities, with many families worried about the safety of the abducted children and teacher.
Reacting to the development, Oba Owoade said the Federal Government must move beyond reactive security measures and focus more on preventing attacks before they occur.
According to him, the country urgently needs stronger intelligence systems capable of identifying threats early and disrupting criminal operations before lives are lost.
He stressed that security agencies must invest in intelligence gathering, improve surveillance and strengthen collaboration with local communities.
“The Federal Government must take a holistic approach to intelligence gathering and native intelligence mechanisms as a system for addressing insecurity,” the monarch said.
He explained that intelligence gathering should not only rely on technology and military operations but also involve traditional and community-based methods that allow security agencies to gain the trust and cooperation of local residents.
The monarch said communities should not be treated as victims or collateral damage during security operations, adding that local people often possess valuable information that could help prevent attacks.
According to him, effective security requires building trust between the people and security agencies.
Oba Owoade also called for stronger protection of schools and rural communities, describing them as “soft targets” frequently attacked by criminal groups because of weak security presence.
He urged the government to cut off the financial and logistical support networks that sustain terrorists and bandits operating across the country.
“The country is going through serious security challenges and what is more disturbing is that these blood guzzlers cannot have such sophisticated and destructive weapons to terrorise people without receiving backing from some allies somewhere,” he stated.
The monarch described attacks on innocent citizens as acts of terrorism and an affront to human dignity.
“Threats to human lives are not only serious acts of terrorism but indeed an abomination,” he added.
He urged Nigerians and international partners to support efforts aimed at defeating terrorism and restoring peace to affected communities.
“This is why well-meaning Nigerians and good friends of Nigeria must see the current war against dreaded terrorists as a welcomed development and give total support in order to save the country from the siege of terrorism,” he said.
Oba Owoade further warned that insecurity was gradually weakening public trust in government and damaging relationships among communities.
According to him, constant fear of attacks, kidnappings and violence has left many Nigerians traumatised and uncertain about their future.
“Citizens are fast losing trust in their government’s ability to protect them, and inter-communal trust is breaking down,” he said.
“The constant threat of violence, kidnapping and attacks leaves a generation of citizens with lasting psychological trauma, anxiety and mental health challenges.”
He noted that insecurity also threatens governance, political stability and national unity.
The monarch argued that although military operations remain important, the long-term solution to insecurity must involve addressing the root causes of criminality and insurgency.
“The ultimate solution is more political than military. Government, political leaders and followers, and all of us must have the courage and honesty to get to the root causes of our current state of insecurity, underpinned by criminality and insurgency,” he stated.
He also raised concern about the growing number of displaced persons across the country due to insecurity.
“The most tragic consequence is the loss of human lives and the mass displacement of populations, creating an internally displaced persons crisis and tearing families apart,” he added.
Oba Owoade called for a total overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, saying the current system requires urgent reforms to respond effectively to modern security threats.
At the same time, he commended President Bola Tinubu for demonstrating commitment toward addressing insecurity in the country.
According to him, the president has shown through his actions that tackling insecurity remains one of the major priorities of his administration.
The Alaafin also sympathized with families affected by the attack and assured them that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“I commiserate with the families affected by the attacks and assure them that the government is on top of the situation, as the perpetrators will be brought to justice,” he said.
He disclosed that police officers and local security operatives had already been deployed to the affected villages to strengthen security and support rescue operations.
The latest attack in Oyo State has once again highlighted growing concerns over insecurity in many parts of Nigeria, especially in rural communities where residents often complain about poor security presence.
In recent years, incidents of kidnapping for ransom, attacks on schools and assaults on villages have spread beyond the North-East and North-West into several other states across the country.
The Old Oyo National Park area, where the abducted pupils were reportedly taken, is known for its large forest coverage stretching across parts of Oyo and Kwara states.
Many residents have called on the government to intensify rescue operations and improve security around schools to prevent further attacks.
As families continue to wait anxiously for the safe return of the abducted children and teacher, pressure is mounting on security agencies to secure their release and restore confidence among residents of the affected communities.