News
Quit South West now or d!e’ – Gani Adams, Yoruba leaders warn B/Haram, ISWAP operatives h!bernating in region
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
ISWAP in South west Nigeria
Some miners hiding them – Adams
•Bandits’ location known – Hunters Ogun activates security assets, recruits 1, 000 Amotekun corps
Our zone not a place for bandits – Amotekun Commanders
….Sleeper cells’ll be crushed before activated — Oyebanji’s Security Adviser
Infiltrators must be flushed out — YCE
Following the infiltration of the South-West region by suspected fleeing Islamic State in West Africa Province, ISWAP, and Boko Haram terrorists from North-West and North-East, there is uneasy calm in the region.
Many, especially in the interiors and border communities, are living in fear over the likely activities of the terrorists.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had raised the alarm that fleeing bandits and ISWAP fighters are making their way to the South, saying this may heighten insecurity.
To prevent the rise in insecurity following this development, stakeholders, including the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams; the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, Soludero Hunters’ Association and Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, have issued a stern warning to Boko Haram and ISWAP members hibernating in the region to leave the South-West now or die.
Sunday Vanguard reliably gathered that the respective state commands of the police, Amotekun and local hunters are battle-ready to confront any form of insecurity.
Miners hiding B-Haram, ISWAP members – Gani Adams
Gani Adams, who admitted that Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters are hibernating in the South-West, accused miners of hiding the terrorists.
Adams revealed that as the Yoruba generalissimo, countless letters have been written to South-West governors on the need for collaboration, adding that all has fell on deaf ears
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland said: “We are worried over the influx of Boko Haram fighters in the South-West. We have discussed at the Aare-in-Council meeting, the OPC meetings and South-West Security Stakeholders’ group.
“ The influx of northerners in Ilesha and Ile Ife is because of the mining activities going on there”, he said.
“We have seen camps of over 30,000 northerners around Ilesha and Ile Ife forests. They have created villages around there, but there are no Yoruba people living there, unfortunately, most of the communities in Ilesha have been overrun by these mining activities. It is easy for the miners to hide Boko Haram and ISWAP members. We have an influx of ISWAP members in the South-West.
“I have written to the governors that I am ready to cooperate with them on the security of Yorubaland. All hands must be on deck on security matters.
It is unfortunate that our political class play politics with the security of their states. We don’t have the intention to take the state from the governors and that is why we call it synergy.
“Since I spoke about it in January 2024, nothing has been done by the governors. As the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, the traditional Defense Minister, according to the history of Yorubaland, I have to be given a role. I cannot force myself on the governors but if they don’t give me a task, it will be difficult for me and if I try to do it, I will be intruding on governance, it can cause me problems.
Ogun adopts a multi-pronged approach
Ogun State government, on its part, said it is deeply concerned about the rising insecurity in the South-West, saying it is not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring the security of lives and property in the state.
According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Mr Kayode Akinmade, the state government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to tackle this ugly trend effectively.
Akinmade said: “The state government is deeply concerned about the rising cases of insecurity, including terror, killings and kidnappings, and has adopted a multi-pronged approach to tackle this ugly trend effectively.
and they don’t want to disappoint the people of Ekiti State. We have learnt from our past experiences and we are battle ready.
“We have met this year to review the situation of last year and we have re-mapped and redesigned the security architecture of the state to bring it to term with the new realities.
“I’m assuring the people of Ekiti State that they are safe, they should go about their normal business without any fear.
“We are working together and synergising strategies with our immediate neighbours such as Kogi, Kwara, Ondo and Osun, sharing information on how best to combat crime and criminality in our states. We have also instructed the local government in border areas to link up with their counterparts in neighboring states and keep vigilance to nip any incursion in the bud
Vigilance and recruitment of more personnel for Amotekun Corps
”The vigilance, recruitment of locals and posting them in their respective communities have been of immense benefit to us, it has enabled us to discover sleeper cells, preempting their action before they strike. You will observe that Ekiti has been relatively peaceful for sometime now
“The Ekiti State government has put Amotekun Operatives on special salary since December, 2024; they almost have a 250 per cent increment in their salary and it’s a salary that can take anybody home.
“The allocation for their monthly grants, servicing, and fueling of their vehicles, has increased too.
Sometimes, towards the end of 2024, some vehicles were procured for Amotekun to enable them to upscale their performance. There is also a plan in the pipeline to increase their capacity, alongside other sister agencies like Agro Marshall, Peace Corps and Anti grazing Management.”
Infiltrators must be flushed out — YCE
In its reaction, Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, urged the South-West governors to flush out the bandits.
YCE, in a statement by its Secretary-General, Chief Oladipo Oyewole, said: “The infiltration of bandits into the forests of North West to Osun and Oyo states is of great concern to all.
“For anyone who knows the geography of those areas, it is porous and accessible. Those descriptions alone must be seen as a source of worry for Yorubaland.
“The YCE, having taken deep cognizance of the need for the safety of lives and properties of Nigerians, feels worried and more concerned for a need for proactive measures to assail the fear that is beginning to grip the hearts and minds of those who care! For the governors of Oyo and Osun States to have come into the open to speak about the fear means there are a lot of issues of internal security.
“Governments of Osun, Oyo and Lagos cannot and must not relax. Law enforcement agencies too must prepare. The Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, therefore, urges all agencies of government (along with both federal and states) to be proactive in this unanimous struggle to chase them out.”
By Gloria Ikibah
Communities in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, are beginning to see visible signs of change as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu recently launched a series of public infrastructure projects.
The initiative, which began on Friday, took Kalu across three key wards Bende, Itumbauzo, and Uzuakoli, where he formally opened a number of completed facilities. These include blocks of classrooms, administrative offices, rehabilitated roads, and new boreholes.
Bende Constituency, one of the largest in the country with 13 wards, has long grappled with infrastructure gaps. The newly delivered projects are seen as part of a broader effort to close those gaps and raise the standard of living in the area.
Residents say the projects are already making a difference in both school attendance and ease of movement between villages. Many hope this momentum continues in the months ahead.
…as labour minister call for stricter laws to protect workers
By Gloria Ikibah
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed serious concern over the state of workplace safety in Nigeria, calling for urgent legislative action to prevent further injuries and fatalities.
Speaker Abbas made the call during the 2025 World Day for Safety Conference, with the theme: “The Legislative Perspective: Safety First – Building a Safer Future for All Nigerians”, organised by the House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday.
The Speaker who was represented by Ondo lawmaker, Rep. Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, said that the occasion was a reminder of the need to protect Nigerian workers from occupational hazards.
He said: “Today’s event is very significant, especially in the lives of workers across the globe. It reminds us of the need to guarantee the safety of workers against occupational hazards and fatalities.
“In societies where life is not given the right premium, workers are exposed to various accidents and dangers. Every worker has a right to be protected.”
Speaker Abbas acknowledged the global importance of the World Day for Safety, which was launched in 2003 by the International Labour Organization (ILO), and shared alarming statistics. “About 2.3 million workers lose their lives every year from workplace injuries and health hazards, with about 160 million non-fatal injuries,” he noted.
Abbas lamented the lack of reliable data In Nigeria, and said the most recent figures—238 deaths and 3,461 injuries in the construction industry—date back to between 2014 and 2016. “Even those reports are incomplete,” he added.
He also cited a study at the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba, which found that 52.7 percent of health workers surveyed had experienced needle pricks, while 53.3 percent reported incidents of blood splashes, and linked this to greater risks during outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19, recalling the sacrifices of Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh and Nurse Justina Ejelonu, who died after coming in contact with the index Ebola case in 2014.
The Speaker blamed many of the injuries in construction sites and criticised the neglect of safety in public buildings.
“Unsafe acts and unsafe working conditions, including lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), hoisting gear, appropriate scaffolds and ladder protection.
“Most public buildings and workplaces in Nigeria are design-built and opened for use without safety checks. Apart from fire extinguishers, you hardly see buildings marked with reflective signs that guide workers in emergencies”, he lamented.
Abbas promised that the House would review and streamline existing laws to improve enforcement and public health protections.
“As the law-making body, the House of Representatives is poised to cause the necessary review of existing laws and seek ways to make them more effective in safeguarding public health and safety”, he added.
The Chairman Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, Rep. David Idris Zacharias in his welcome address said the event marked a historic moment in our nation’s journey towards building a safer, more resilient society.
He stressed that safety must be prioritized, embedded in every policy, and included in every planning phase of our national projects. Whether it’s construction, road, workplace, environmental, or food safety, these are not peripheral issues—they are central to our well-being.
According to Zacharias, the committee’s mission is not only to pass laws but to ensure they are implemented effectively.
He acknowledged that enforcement gaps, poor awareness, and weak appreciation of safety still plague the country. However, he added, and that these challenges present us with immense opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and learn from others.
The committee chairman therefore called for partnerships with businesses, labour unions, NGOs, and the public.
He promised stronger enforcement, increased funding, more monitoring, and public awareness campaigns.
“Safety must be everyone’s concern. From the smallest corner shop to the largest industrial complex, we all have a role to play. We envision a future where safety is embedded in every organisation’s culture, every construction project, and every government policy,” he said.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, in his message called for stronger legislation and cooperation among stakeholders to build a safer work environment for all Nigerians.
He also emphasised that while innovation is necessary, it must not come at the cost of workers’ welfare.
He said: “The theme of today’s conference, The Legislative Perspective: Building a Safer Future for All Nigerians, highlights the critical role of legislation in helping to shape a resilient and future-ready occupational safety and health framework.
“Legislation is central to navigating the digital frontier responsibly; ensuring that innovation does not erode the foundational rights, dignity, and welfare of the Nigerian worker.
“The safety of our workers must be anchored on secure technologies, sound data protection, and inclusive policy frameworks that uphold international labour standards”.
Dr. Dingyadi also stressed the importance of collaboration through the tripartite model involving government, employers, and workers’ organizations, to ensure policies are both enforceable and inclusive.
He further acknowledged delays in reviewing labour laws but said progress had been made, and called for unity across all sectors to build a lasting culture of safety.
“Year 2024 marked significant progress with the publication of Nigeria’s revised OSH Country Profile and the Federal Executive Council’s approval of landmark OSH regulations such as the Construction Safety Regulations 2024”, he added.
The Minister also spoke about the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill, which he said was developed through wide consultations.
“The Ministry has led the development of the Occupational Safety and Health Bill, which has been crafted through our distinctive Tripartite Plus framework. We count on the continued partnership of all stakeholders to make this a reality.
“Together, let us rise to the challenge of building a resilient safety culture, underpinned by innovation, inclusivity, and a shared commitment to protecting the lives of all Nigerian workers”, Dingyadi stated.
Reflections of Victor Oluwafemi Walsh in development communication, policy innovation in Africa
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