Ooni Raises the Alarm Over Influx of Terror Elements Into Southern Nigeria

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has disclosed that intelligence reports have confirmed the gradual infiltration of terrorist groups into parts of Southern Nigeria.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, the foremost Yoruba monarch stated that traditional institutions and local security structures in the South-West are fully mobilised to counter the threat.

Responding to a question on whether any signs of terrorist movements had been noticed, the Ooni said, “Indeed, we have detected such movements. That is the reality, and it is why we are uniting to tackle it.”

He explained that local security outfits across the region have been fortified, stressing that traditional rulers remain pivotal in grassroots security.

According to him, the current administration has strengthened collaboration with local hunters and established forest guards who, he noted, are already proving effective.

“We take our security seriously. We are returning to our ancestral protective systems. We have actionable intelligence, and as they attempt to move closer, we will push them back,” he said.

The Ooni recalled that similar invasions were resisted centuries ago, emphasizing that the Yoruba people have never been subdued. “It happened in the 17th and 18th centuries.

We repelled such forces then, and it will not be different now. We have never been conquered, and we do not intend to be,” he added.