By John Dike, Osogbo
The Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM) has said governors in the South-West lack the capacity, commitment and empathy required to address the growing wave of terrorism and violent attacks across the region.
The coalition, comprising over 130 pan-Yoruba groups, said the security challenges confronting Yorubaland have gone beyond ordinary criminality and now constitute a full-scale assault by non-state actors.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr. Popoola Ajayi, on Monday, the group argued that South-West governors had ignored clear warning signs of terrorist incursions since the escalation of violence in parts of the Middle Belt more than a decade ago.
According to AYDM, the region’s political leaders failed to take proactive measures despite repeated attacks on communities, traditional rulers and residents.
The group cited the killings and abductions of several traditional rulers across the South-West and neighbouring states as evidence of worsening insecurity. It recalled the killing of Oba Kehinde Falodun of Agamo Community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, who was murdered in his palace in February 2026 after resisting a kidnap attempt.
AYDM also referenced the killing of Oba Segun Aremu, the Olukoro of Koro in Kwara State, who was reportedly shot dead in his palace during an abduction attempt in February 2024. It further mentioned the deaths of Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin, the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, and Oba Samuel Olatunji, the Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, who were allegedly ambushed and killed by armed assailants while returning from a security meeting in January 2024.
The coalition noted that the late Oba Adegoke Adeusi, the Olufon of Ifon in Ondo State, was similarly killed by gunmen along the Ifon-Benin highway in November 2020.
According to the group, several traditional rulers have also been abducted in recent years, including the Oba of Okoloke in Kogi State and other monarchs in Kwara State, yet regional leaders failed to demonstrate sufficient concern or solidarity.
“None of the state governors visited the families of the slain traditional rulers. None visited Kwara after the massacre of more than 160 people, including women and children, and there was little response to attacks in Yagba West and parts of Ogun State,” the statement alleged.
The group also criticised the South-West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, describing it as under-equipped and inadequately prepared to confront heavily armed terrorist groups.
AYDM claimed that many operatives lack essential protective equipment and that the corps remains poorly armed and insufficiently trained for modern counter-terrorism operations.
It further alleged that critical components needed for effective regional security coordination, including intelligence-sharing mechanisms, joint operational training, common security control rooms and data-processing centres, remain largely absent.
The coalition argued that confronting terrorism requires courage, expertise, commitment and strategic understanding, qualities it claimed are lacking among many political leaders in the region.
Referring to the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State, AYDM said the incident exposed what it described as the indifferent attitude of political office holders to the suffering of affected families and communities.
The group expressed disappointment over what it termed the delayed response by authorities and criticised the conduct of some government officials during visits to affected families.
It also linked growing voter apathy in the South-West to public dissatisfaction with political leadership, arguing that declining electoral participation reflects a loss of confidence in elected officials.
AYDM warned that continued failure to guarantee the safety of citizens could lead to growing frustration among residents, stressing that governments have a constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
The coalition maintained that closer security collaboration among South-West states and neighbouring Kogi and Kwara states could have significantly reduced the threat posed by armed groups operating across the region.
It urged political leaders to adopt a more coordinated and proactive approach to security before the situation deteriorates further.
