Group sues nine State Govs, others over kidnapping, banditry, terrorism
The Yoruba Koya Leadership and Training Foundation (YKLTF) group, has dragged the South-West Governors to court on Wednesday over the state of insecurity of the inhabitants of the region.
The group’s President, Otunba Deji Osibogun and Director of Media and Publicity, Amb. Demola Sanyaolu, said they resolved to take the legal path due to the seeming lackadaisical attitude of the Governors towards the plight of the citizens in their states in the area of security.
The plaintiffs in the suit, IB/CS/189/22 filed before the Federal High Court Ibadan Judicial Division, included Mr Deji Osibogun, Prof. Bisi Sowunmi, Mrs Ronke Okusanya, Senator Olatokunbo Ogunbanjo and Mr. Olakunle Osuntokun as the registered trustees of the Yoruba Koya Leadership and Training Foundation;
The defendants are the Governors and Attorneys-General of the Southwest States as well as Edo, Kogi and Kwara states.
The plaintiffs, in the suit, argued that Yoruba people are being subjected to incessant kidnapping, armed robberies, terrorism, banditry by both local and foreign invaders.
They noted that the suit is in line with the constitution of Nigeria and in the interest of the people of the Yoruba ethnic group with absolute rights as provided under the Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights to protect themselves and their means of livelihood from destruction by the foreign/local herders and bandits.
The plaintiffs also noted that of recent, road travelling through the states inhabited by the Yoruba people in Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo have become dangerous owing to the incessant kidnapping, banditry and robbery being carried out by the foreign/local herders and bandits along the highways unchallenged.
The trustees, having visited various farming communities in Yoruba land at personal risks to interview and interact with the farmers and other inhabitants, discovered that the farmers can no longer go to their farms for fear of being killed or kidnapped by the foreign/local herders and life generally have become very hard, nasty and frustrating to them.
Osibogun said: “It will be recalled that in the past, we made attempt by writing letters and sending emissaries to the governors which have not yielded results. We have decided to pursue the legal step to at least ask them to come to the aid of the citizens.”
The organization believes that this path will compel the governors to act promptly and in good faith for the betterment of the masses in their care.
The plaintiffs, in the suit, requests for the following; “To compel the defendants to protect the lives, dignities, personal liberties, as well as freedom from any act of discrimination, dominion, oppression, by the local and foreign marauding herders, bandits, kidnappers, who continue to terrorize, maim, rape, kill and kidnap the people of the said communities (states) daily without inhibition.
“Declaration that the people residing in all the 9 states have a right to demand that the defendants be compelled to protect their communities and their farmlands from the encroachment and invasion of local and foreign herders, bandits and kidnappers who have continued to prevent the people of the communities from realizing their full potentials of enabling environment; favourable to their social and economic development
“Declaration that the continuous invasion of the Yoruba ethnic communities in the farmland, roads and other facilities, in the 9 states mentioned by foreign and local herders, bandits and kidnappers without any lawful justifiable reasons and the inability of defendants in arresting or combating the incessant and unprecedented carnage is an antithesis and contravention of the oath of office, sworn to by the defendants, in pursuant of section 185 (1) and (2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended or any other extant laws.
“Declaration that the sudden and continuous invasion of the Yoruba ethnic communities in the 9 states mentioned by bandits, marauders, kidnappers, rapists and the inability of the defendants taking any step to combat the invasion and carnage has exposed the Yoruba ethnic group and the communities to perilous and dangerous situation in contrast to the assurance of their inalienable rights to be preserved under article 19, 20 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights ratification and enforcement act cap A9 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“An order, compelling the defendants to take every lawful and legal means necessary, to protect their respective communities and their farmlands from encroachment and invasion of both local and foreign herders, bandits, kidnappers who have continued to prevent the people of the communities from realizing their full potentials of enabling environment favorable to their social and economic development.”
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JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, declaring that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, will be heading the council for a period of 2 years.
The declaration follows the passing of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025, by the state House of Assembly, and the signing of the same into law by the governor.
Recall that the lawmakers had amended Clause 5 of Section 28 of the Chieftaincy Law to make the Council chairmanship rotational among the Alaafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomoso, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
While inaugurating the Council, Governor Makinde said he had consulted with the trio of the Alaafin, the Olubadan and the Soun, with the three of them reaching a consensus that the chairmanship should start with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
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NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
The Inspector General of Police (I-GP), Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has assured that the police remained committed to community policing to ensure that criminals were drastically reduced in the country.
The I-GP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector of Police ( AIG) Zone 17, Dr Ajani Musibau, stated this at the Police Community Relations Committee ( PCRC) National Leadership Training and Conference on Thursday in Akure.
The theme of the conference is: “Inclusivity and Diversity: the New Leadership Paradigm.”
He said that security could not be achieved by only the police, but with the support from the community.
The I-GP stated that security was a joint work and responsibility of all, commending the current leadership of the Nigeria Police for a paradigm shift towards modern policing.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Adebowale Lawal, said that bandits could not infiltrate the state due to community policing strategy embraced by the command.
He explained that bandits would have infiltrated the state through Kogi and Edo, but intelligence reports from members of PCRC had been a great help to the police command.
According to him, the support and logistics received from the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun and Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa had also motivated police personnel to work earnestly.
He said that effective community policing was a sure way to curb activities of criminals, and implored members of the public not to relent in their efforts to provide police and other security agencies with useful information.
Lawal also commended other conventional security agencies, forest guards and vigilantes for their support to the police in fighting bandits
In his remarks, the National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Ibrahim Mogaji said that the conference was to strengthen leaders of PCRC in the South-West zone and encourage them to redouble their efforts and support in fighting crimes.
According to Mogaji, the occasion also enabled the association to appreciate Gov. Aiyedatiwa, I-GP, the AIG Zone 17 and the state Commissioner of Police.
He advised the participants to moblise other members of PCRC and orientate them on their roles to continue to fight crime in the country.
The PCRC national chairman asked Nigerians to respect the dignity of police and to be civil when interacting with them.
Mogaji said that the leadership training would be replicated in other geo-political zones of the country.
Also, Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Security, Mr Gbenga Atiba, commended the PCRC , AIG Zone 17, and the Commissioner of Police for their unrelenting efforts to guarantee peace across the state.
Aiyedatiwa promised that the state government would give PCRC attention and continue to support police and other security agencies with appropriate logistics that would make policing more effective.
A guest lecturer, Comrade Yinka Folarin asked members of the public to give respect and dignity to members of the police, saying that they also had rights that must be respected.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PCRC honoured Gov. Aiyedatiwa, AIG Zone 17 and the Commissioner of Police with awards. (NAN)
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Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for improved welfare packages for armed forces personnel and all members of the security and intelligence community to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.
National Chairman of PDP, Tanimu Turaki, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Thursday to mark the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
Turaki also urged the Federal Government to adequately fund security agencies to effectively neutralise those he described as agents of insecurity, and restore peace to the country.
He expressed PDP’s condolences to the families of members of the armed forces who died in active service while executing their mandate of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“On a day like this, we acknowledge that they paid the supreme price for the continuous existence of our country.
“We advise all actors, whether state or non-state, not to engage in actions capable of destabilising the country.
“In honour of those who have died to keep our country safe, we pray that their deaths may not be in vain and their labours not forgotten,” Turaki said.(NAN)
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