Coalition Rallies Regional Support To Tackle Insecurity In South West

The Director-General of The Game Changer Group (TGCG), Alhaji Bolaji Raji, has called on stakeholders in Nigeria’s South West to unite and take decisive action against the rising wave of insecurity in the region.

Raji made the call when a delegation of the Oduduwa Development and Integrity Organisation (ODIO), led by its Director-General, Otunba Olusola Orelaja, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

ODIO is a coalition of Yoruba groups drawn from Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, Oyo and Kogi States. The organisation advocates for the Yoruba people and promotes their cultural heritage.

Raji, who was recently appointed grand patron of the Yoruba group, said it was time for stakeholders to confront the increasing cases of abductions and killings in the South West.

He described the situation as “a sad development,” insisting that it requires urgent collective action to prevent further deterioration.

“This is a sad development that affects the entire country, not just one tribe,” Raji said. “As a Yoruba leader, I will do my best to prevent insecurity from spreading throughout Yorubaland. We will work to curtail and stop it permanently.”

He added, “Yorubas are never afraid to face reality. We are ready, and we are going to tackle it. And by His grace, we know that we are going to conquer this.”

The visit comes amid growing concerns over a series of violent incidents in parts of the South West.

In one of the most recent cases in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, about 40 to 48 students were reportedly abducted, while a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was killed in captivity. He was said to have been taken alongside students and staff during a coordinated attack on Community High School and Yawota Baptist School in Oriire, Ogbomoso.

During the raid, an assistant headmaster, Joel Adesiyan, was also killed while attempting to escape, alongside a commercial motorcyclist who reportedly passed the scene during the attack.

In Kwara State, gunmen allegedly abducted at least 222 people, including 176 in a single attack in February, while in Ogun State, members of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria were reportedly kidnapped while submitting seedlings.

Speaking on the situation, Orelaja said insecurity in the South West had reached a “precarious” level, warning that farming and livelihoods were increasingly under threat.

“We observe their movements with their cattle, recognising Nigeria as our shared home. However, our tolerance ends when our safety is compromised. Therefore, we, the Oduduwa Group, stand firm against this menace and will defend ourselves,” he said.

He referenced the late former Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, noting that he had earlier advocated the establishment of the Amotekun security outfit to address such challenges.

“We are actively engaging state governors in the region to combat this evil. We cannot sit back and watch our people being killed,” he added.

Orelaja urged South West governors to deepen collaboration in addressing insecurity, insisting that urgent coordinated action was needed to prevent further escalation.