The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against allowing foreign interests to influence Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly in engagements involving the administration of United States President Donald Trump.
The Osun monarch also condemned the continued killing of innocent villagers by bandits and warned against what he described as the politicisation of insecurity across the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Alli Ibraheem, Oba Akanbi commiserated with the people and government of Kwara State over the recent bandit attack on Woro village, which reportedly claimed more than 170 lives.
He urged the Federal Government to carefully review Nigeria’s security engagements with Western nations to ensure such partnerships do not undermine national unity or ongoing efforts to restore peace.
The monarch expressed concern over what he described as muted public reaction to the Woro attack, noting that the victims were largely Muslims and cautioning against responses shaped by religious or political bias.
“The low reactions recorded after the Woro village attacks call for sober reflection. More than 170 Nigerians were killed overnight,” Oba Akanbi said, adding that no country has successfully tackled banditry or terrorism through division.
He stressed that insecurity cannot be effectively addressed in a fractured society and called on Nigerians to embrace unity and collective responsibility in confronting security challenges.
Oba Akanbi also urged security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering and deepen cooperation with local communities, noting that timely information and grassroots support are critical to curbing banditry and preventing further loss of lives and property.
