The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, on Tuesday issued a grave warning about what he described as an imminent and coordinated terrorist threat targeting the South-West, North-Central, and South-South regions of Nigeria.
Addressing journalists at Oodua House in Ikeja, Lagos, Adams said intelligence reports indicated that heavily armed militant groups had “encircled” the regions and were awaiting instructions from foreign sponsors to launch widespread attacks.
“These are perilous times in Yorubaland,” he said. “From Kogi to Kwara, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, parts of Edo and Delta states — the ominous signs are there. Merchants of death have surrounded more than 60 million people living in this space. They are waiting for a signal from their foreign sponsors to invade, kill mercilessly, and take over ancestral lands.”
Calls for Urgent Foreign Assistance
Adams questioned Nigeria’s ability to contain the threat, saying military support from foreign partners — especially the United States — may be unavoidable.
He expressed strong support for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent pledge to help Nigeria combat extremist violence.
“That’s why we welcome the proposal by the 47th American President, Donald Trump, to flush out these terrorists killing Christians and Muslims in Nigeria,” Adams said. “I still don’t understand why some people are against this military intervention. If our governors are powerless or unwilling to act, American soldiers should help this land.”
He argued that Trump’s position had been misinterpreted, insisting that the U.S. had no intention of establishing military bases in Nigeria but was simply calling for an end to widespread killings.
Referencing Past U.S. Intervention
Adams recalled a 2020 U.S. military rescue operation in northern Nigeria in which American special forces stormed a hideout, killed kidnappers, and rescued an American hostage.
“This is exactly what we are saying,” he noted, adding that the operation demonstrated what could be achieved through decisive action.
Warnings Ignored, Rising Insecurity
He also cited a recent British travel advisory warning citizens against visiting about 20 Nigerian states, describing it as an embarrassment and a sign of the country’s deepening security crisis.
Adams said he had warned Yoruba governors over a year ago about the infiltration of forests by criminal groups, but no meaningful action was taken.
To address the escalating threats, he called for a Southwest Security Summit that would bring together traditional rulers, clerics, farmers, herders, business leaders, and security agencies. He expressed disappointment that the proposal had not been given adequate attention.
Terrorists ‘Mobilising To Invade Cities’
Adams warned that intelligence reports indicated terrorists were moving out of forests toward major urban centres.
“Through our intelligence gathering, these terrorists are already mobilising to leave forests and invade our towns and cities,” he said.
He urged Yoruba communities to heighten local vigilance:
“This is the time for all Yoruba to be alert. We must activate our local intelligence network because this monster must be fought by all.”
Wave of Killings and Attacks
The Yoruba leader highlighted a series of recent attacks, including:
- The killing of Major General Segun Aremu (rtd), the Olukoro of Koro, Kwara State, and the abduction of his wife.
- The assassination of Oba Israel Adeusi, the Ifon monarch in Ondo State.
- The August 2025 attack in Babanla, Kwara State, where about 20 villages were displaced and 36 people killed.
- The recent killing of Vice Principal Hassan Makuku and the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Maga, Kebbi State.
He also pointed to violence across the Middle Belt — including Benue, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, and Taraba — where more than 300 villages have reportedly been displaced.
Adams claimed terrorists were exploiting Nigeria’s porous forests to mine solid minerals, using the proceeds to acquire weapons.
Calls for Government Action
He stressed that security agencies must rise to the challenge, saying any threat to the nation’s economy is a threat to national security.
“This is the time to act before the situation becomes unbearable,” Adams warned.
Concluding with a prayer, he said: “Oodua a gbe wa o. Ile Yoruba ko ni baje o.”
