The Agbekoya Society of Nigeria, an association of Yoruba farmers and hunters, has appealed to the federal government to provide them with arms and technology to combat the rising insecurity in the South-West region.
The group also asked the government to support the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), another Yoruba socio-cultural organization, in their efforts to protect the lives and properties of the people.
This was contained in a statement issued by the secretary general of Agbekoya worldwide, Dr Adegbenro Ogunlana, on Sunday in Lagos.
Dr Ogunlana said that the Agbekoya and the OPC were ready to confront the menace of kidnappers and bandits, who have been terrorising the region and killing traditional rulers and citizens.
He, however, lamented that the lack of funds and government policy hindered the launch of the Agbekoya forest guards, a security outfit that was proposed by the president of Agbekoya, Kamorudeen Okikiola, during the group’s 85th founder’s anniversary on Nov.10, 2023.
He said that the president had pledged to deploy 2,500 warriors as forest guards across Yorubaland, but none of the South-West state governments was willing to sponsor the initiative.
He said: “We need all hands on deck to tackle the insecurity in our region. We cannot rely on the police and other security agencies alone. We need arms and technology from the federal government to equip our members and the OPC to defend our land. It is sad that two Ekiti Obas were gunned down just like that and kidnappings everywhere.”
Dr Ogunlana also called for transparency in the selection and installation of Obas and Baales, the traditional rulers in Yorubaland.
He said that the process should be done according to the customs and traditions of the Yoruba people, and not by cutting corners or skipping important initiations.
He said that this would ensure that the Obas and Baales have the respect and authority of their subjects, and also the spiritual powers to ward off evil.
He said: “That was how Yorubaland was founded. There will be a paramount ruler with many Baales. That’s why we have a saying, ‘Baale Oko Ilu (The Chief is the head of the community)’.
“So, if you cut corners during the coronation and installation, the Oba will not have special powers.
“The Oba will just be like an ordinary person but when you meet an Oba suddenly, one must be afraid.
“This is because of the traditional charms influence on him, which makes it difficult to look at them but nowadays, all important initiations will be skipped.”
He said that the Yoruba Obas were getting too many, and suggested that having a paramount ruler with a lot of baales would be a better arrangement.
(NAN)