You Ignored My Warnings!” — Gani Adams Blasts South-West Governors Over Insecurity

The Yoruba leader lamented that despite the increasing cases of kidnapping and banditry across the region, state governors have failed to take decisive action.

Adams made the remarks on Tuesday while reacting to the recent attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where gunmen abducted pupils, students, and teachers, with one teacher reportedly killed afterward.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Adams described the incident as painful and alarming, warning that insecurity in the South-West can no longer be treated casually.

“What happened in Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State a few days ago is very sad and highly condemnable,” he stated.

According to him, while kidnapping incidents had previously occurred in parts of the South-West, the latest mass abduction indicates that criminal groups are becoming increasingly bold in the region.

He said, “We have had a series of kidnappings in different states, but we have not witnessed mass kidnapping in Yorubaland, and that shows that the Yoruba race in the South-West must prepare for this issue of insecurity.”

Adams revealed that he had repeatedly alerted authorities about the activities of criminal elements operating in several South-West states, claiming that some areas had already been infiltrated.

He specifically mentioned Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo states as locations where he had earlier raised concerns about growing criminal activities.

The Aare Ona Kakanfo also disclosed that he formally wrote to South-West governors, calling for stronger collaboration between governments, traditional institutions, and socio-cultural organisations to improve regional security, but said his efforts received no response.

“I had written to the South-West governors that there is a need for collaboration on the issue of security; all hands must be on deck on these issues. But for the past two years, they have not replied to me,” he said.

Adams added that several Yoruba groups beyond the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) are willing to partner with governments in addressing insecurity in the region.

He explained that a world press conference was held about five months ago to advocate cooperation between the government, the Aare-in-Council, and about 14 Yoruba organisations on security matters.

The Yoruba leader also questioned the silence of many stakeholders amid worsening insecurity, expressing disappointment that some people still blame him for the situation despite having no constitutional authority over security agencies.

The attack in question occurred last Friday when gunmen invaded the Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and abducted staff and pupils from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and LGEA Primary School.