Following the killings of two traditional rulers in Ekiti state, the Onibudo of Ayetoro-Budo Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota local government area of Ogun State, Oba Adewunmi Odutala has enjoined royal fathers in the South West to brace up to defend themselves.
Oba Odutala who condemned the attack on three monarchs in Ekiti State that led to the death of two traditional rulers, urged the federal and state governments to expedite action on establishing community policing to stem the tide of insecurity across the country.
The monarch described the incident as a sacrilegious audacity deliberately planned and executed to undermine the security capacity of Nigeria.
He said, if the government failed to protect them, the traditional rulers owe their communities the duty of protecting their domains.
He urged Governor Biodun Oyebanji and President Bola Tinubu to expedite thorough investigations into the killings and ensure that the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.
According to him, if this could happen to the traditional rulers, what would then become hopes for their common subjects who look up to them for local security interventions.
He said the recent spate of killings and kidnappings of traditional rulers and school children across the country highlights the urgent need for a robust, community-oriented security system.
The monarch argued that community policing, with its emphasis on local involvement, will help enhance intelligence gathering, deterring criminal activities, and ensuring the safety of Nigerians.
“Enough is enough. The traditional rulers in Nigeria must be motivated with statutory community policing policy needed to work officially with the government as we remain the closest leaders to the people, we know the traditional techniques to get rid of all these unfortunate situations. We are no cowards and we are ready to rise to the occasion defending our traditional land. Get us statutorily involved and see that what we inherited from our respective ancestors is still intact and real.
“The kings, the traditional rulers should be ready to defend themselves and their communities, their subjects from external aggression. All these things that are happening in the southern part of the country are not happening in the North. I haven’t heard that they kidnap a king in the North. I don’t think I have heard or read it. Why is it in the south?
“What is the motive behind all of this act? Southern traditional rulers should be ready to defend themselves if the government fails to defend us, protect us, to provide security for us. We should be ready to protect ourselves, our subject and our community.”
