President Bola Tinubu and other political leaders in the South West have been warned against arming non-state actors such as Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, in their efforts to combat the rising insecurity in the region. This warning comes after the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Legal Practitioner's Warning
Binzak Azeez, a legal practitioner, issued the warning in an exclusive interview, stating that the incident appears to be the first of its kind in contemporary times. He emphasized that the situation must be handled carefully to prevent it from escalating like the insecurity in Northern Nigeria, where powerful individuals exploit the crisis for personal gain.
Azeez said: "The kidnapping incident has shown the wider and degenerating scope of insecurity in the country. The invasion of schools by kidnappers is very strange in the South West. To the best of my knowledge, the Oyo State incident is the first school kidnapping case in the South West in contemporary times."
He added: "If the Oyo kidnapping incident is not carefully addressed, the invasion of schools by kidnappers would become a new norm in the South West, as it appears in Northern Nigeria, where insecurity serves the interests of powerful individuals."
Risks of Arming Non-State Actors
In tackling the Oyo kidnapping, Azeez warned that it would be catastrophic for the government to arm individuals like Sunday Igboho who have demanded arms and ammunition to combat kidnapping. He expressed disappointment that the government, which controls the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and other national security agencies, would consider delegating security to non-state actors.
He noted that private citizens could assist with intelligence gathering, but arming them could undermine security agencies and lead to weapons being used illegally. "Giving arms to citizens randomly under the guise of fighting insecurity will further worsen the current spate of insecurity, as the arms can easily be converted for illegal purposes. Non-state actors may derail from core objectives and work to sustain insecurity for personal benefit," he said.
Calls for Decentralized Security
Azeez urged that the pupils and teachers must be rescued at all costs, even if compromises are necessary. However, he advised against embracing ransom payments or dialogue with kidnappers. He stressed that the constitutional decentralization of security architecture and judicious use of national resources are key to curbing insecurity. "The country is filled with hopeless able-bodied men desperate for survival, engaging in criminality or being recruited by wealthy individuals," he concluded.
Peter Obi Reacts to Oyo Kidnapping
In a related development, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the NDC in the 2027 general election, condemned the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State. The former Anambra State governor appealed for their release in the name of humanity, decrying the state of insecurity in the country. His statement has generated reactions from Nigerians.
