The Olofin of Isheri, Oba Sulaiman Bamgbade, has dismissed speculation that some traditional rulers are complicit in the security challenges bedevilling communities across the country.
The monarch, also the Edun Alaka III, stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, noting that no traditional ruler wants his domain to be attacked by terrorists.
“We have this information that some traditional rulers are complicit in these situations, but I don’t think it’s true,” said Bamgbade.
“No traditional ruler would want his town or community raided by these terrorists or bandits, whatever we call them.
“But the situation is when you have this information, and the security operatives are not on the ground to pass this information to, people see it as if you are complicit in all of this action, but they are not.”
Olofin of Isheri also threw his weight behind the creation of state police, an idea he said was due.
He, however, called for the representation of the traditional institution in the formation of the security structure.
“And that is why we are saying that if these traditional rulers are presented and are part of this security architecture, once this traditional ruler gets information, he passes it to the chairman.
“The chairman has an express way to giving it to those involved and those that should operate on it,” the monarch said.
Rural communities across Nigeria have remained at the centre of the country’s security crisis, with terrorists, bandits and other armed groups repeatedly attacking villages, abducting residents and killing civilians.
Communities in states such as Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and parts of the North Central and South-West region have suffered repeated raids, forcing many residents to flee their homes while disrupting farming, education and economic activities.
There have been several reported incidents involving mass abductions, including the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo and Borno states, highlighting the growing reach of armed groups beyond traditional conflict zones.
Stakeholders have linked the persistent attacks to weak policing in remote communities and porous borders, intensifying the call for state police.
Despite intensified military offensives and ongoing rescue operations, many rural residents continue to live under the threat of attacks, with kidnappings for ransom and deadly assaults remaining a major humanitarian and security challenge.
The calls for state police have prompted state governors to advocate decentralised policing.
However, while the Senate has passed the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated a Presidential Working Group to draft the legal framework for implementation, marking significant progress towards establishing state police.
The House of Representatives on Tuesday stepped back from its own constitutional amendment proposal on state policing and will instead proceed with a similar bill submitted by the Presidency.
