Southwest Under Threat: Adeleke Activates Hunters, Amotekun, OPC to Defend Osun Schools and Communities.

As insecurity continues to spread across parts of the Southwest, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has launched an aggressive security mobilisation aimed at protecting schools, communities, and residents from the growing threat of bandit attacks and kidnappings.

The governor disclosed on Tuesday that his administration has activated every layer of the state’s security architecture, bringing together formal security agencies, local vigilante groups, hunters, and community intelligence networks in what he described as a coordinated defensive strategy against criminal elements.

In a statement posted on his official X handle, Adeleke said recent security developments in the region prompted extensive consultations with stakeholders across Osun State to strengthen preparedness and ensure residents remain safe.

According to him, the consultations began at the grassroots level, involving local hunters, members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Agbekoya operatives, Amotekun Corps personnel, and other community-based security groups.

“In the past few days, I have held extensive security consultations with stakeholders across the state, formal and informal, to strengthen our collective preparedness against emerging threats,” Adeleke stated.

“We began at the grassroots: hunters, OPC, Agbekoya, Amotekun and community-based security groups. Today, we escalated to an expanded State Security Council session with service commanders. Every layer of our security architecture is activated and coordinated.”

The governor stressed that safeguarding schools and communities remains a top priority for his administration, especially following the recent wave of attacks targeting rural communities and educational institutions in the Southwest.

“Securing our schools, our communities, and our people is non-negotiable,” Adeleke declared.

“We are  deploying intelligence gathering, strategic collaboration and coordinated action to protect every inch of the state.”

The governor also acknowledged the crucial role traditional rulers play in local security and intelligence gathering, revealing that he had personally contacted the Osun State Traditional Council of Obas through the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

According to Adeleke, a broader meeting with traditional rulers across the state will soon be convened as part of efforts to deepen community surveillance and strengthen grassroots intelligence sharing.

“I have personally reached out to the Osun State Traditional Council of Obas through the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, and we will soon be meeting with all traditional rulers across Osun,” he said.

“They are not just custodians of our culture; they are also the eyes and ears of their domains and critical partners in community security response.”

The governor urged residents to remain alert and cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements and activities in their communities.

“To the good people of Osun: we are watching. We are working. And we will not relent. If you see something, say something,” he added.

The heightened security mobilisation in Osun comes amid growing anxiety over the increasing activities of bandits and kidnappers across parts of the Southwest.

The latest fears were triggered by a deadly attack in Oyo State on May 15, when armed bandits stormed three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, abducting dozens of pupils and teachers. The incident shocked many Nigerians after reports indicated that several victims were taken into nearby forests before security operatives launched rescue efforts.

Security analysts have since warned that criminal groups displaced from the North-West and North-Central regions may be attempting to establish new operational bases in parts of the Southwest, prompting state governments to intensify surveillance and local security coordination.

Residents across Osun have welcomed the governor’s proactive approach, with many calling for sustained collaboration between communities and security agencies to prevent any spillover of violence into the state.