By Lukman Olabiyi
Self-determination groups in the South West strongly back state police. They see it as the best way to stop the rising kidnappings in the region.
They made this call at a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos on Thursday. The event, themed “Western Nigeria Global Summit on Security and Livelihood,” brought key voices together.
Attendees pressed for state governors and local government chairmen to take charge of security. As chief security officers, these leaders should answer for any safety failures, they argued.
Adewale Adeoye, a convener, spoke about the struggles Nigerians face. He said many live in fear of violence daily. In Yoruba land, he added, despair grows as it becomes a terrorist haven.
Rasaq Olokooba joined in. He said self-determination means keeping people safe. He urged the federal government to support local security groups to fight kidnappers and outside threats.
Lead convener C. Wale Oshun stressed the region’s duty to protect its own. He said the summit was sparked by endless killings that show no sign of stopping. Oshun shared security data showing 53 camps in South West forests where Fulani herdsmen run kidnapping operations. He noted kidnappers earned N2.2 trillion in ransom last year, much of it from this region. Plus, 77% of victims are rural, leaving farmers too scared to work their fields.
Oshun pushed for state police. He believes only local forces who know the area can tackle this crisis effectively.
The summit heard from kidnapping victims too. Prince Eniola Ojajuni, Deji Omotoyinbo, and Dr. Olatunde Hamzat shared their stories. They raised the alarm that some security forces seem to help kidnappers. Military and police checkpoints sit close to ransom drop-off points, yet officials often claim ignorance.
The meeting also found that some Yoruba locals might be aiding these Fulani herdsmen, making the problem trickier.
In the end, the summit demanded fast action. They called for state police to curb the South West’s growing insecurity.