Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Prominent Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, has formally requested the consent of the Federal Government, South West governors, and security agencies including the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Army to launch a coordinated security offensive aimed at clearing bandits, rogue herders, and kidnappers from the forests of Yorubaland. The call came on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, through a statement issued to condemn the recent abduction of 46 pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and to express condolences to the families of the victims, including the family of mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun, who was beheaded by his captors on Sunday, May 17. Igboho disclosed that he had completed all necessary preparations for the establishment of the Iru Ekun Security Network, a volunteer force designed to complement existing security agencies by conducting targeted forest incursions to flush out criminal elements. He emphasised that he was awaiting government authorization before initiating what he described as a "strategically planned and effectively organized offensive."
In his statement, Igboho expressed deep anguish over the coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, which occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 15. He noted that the incidents in the Ahoro‑Esinele community, along with other previous security violations, were tragic, unfortunate, and deeply concerning, especially for the victims of abduction, particularly the innocent students. "I am merely waiting for the government's approval to confront the escalating insecurity that is plaguing the South‑West directly," Igboho stated. He added that he did not wish to initiate his planned offensive without the official consent of the Federal Government, South West governors, and relevant security agencies. "I do not wish to initiate our strategically planned and effectively organized offensive against these criminals without the official consent of the Federal Government, South West governors, and relevant security agencies such as the Police, Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Army," the statement read.
The activist specifically referenced the killing of Michael Oyedokun, the mathematics teacher whose beheading was captured in a viral video, as a turning point that demanded urgent action. "My thoughts are with the parents of the kidnapped students and the families of the murdered teachers and security personnel who lost their lives in these heinous acts," Igboho said. He argued that delay in taking decisive action would only compound the suffering of rural communities that bear the brunt of bandit attacks. "However, it is essential at this point not to delay in taking decisive actions that can restore peace, effective security, and the confidence of our rural communities, which are suffering the most from the avoidable brutal killings and attacks by bandits in the South West and parts of Kwara State," he added. Igboho also appealed to traditional rulers to intervene and urge government officials to promptly grant approval for the launch of the Iru Ekun Security Network.
The Iru Ekun Security Network, which Igboho has been promoting for several months, is envisioned as a community‑based volunteer force modelled on existing regional security outfits like Amotekun but with a more aggressive mandate to enter forests and dismantle criminal hideouts. According to Igboho, the network has already been fully organised and is awaiting only government clearance to begin operations. "We are prepared with our team to invade these forests and drive out the marauders who have made life unbearable for our people. We cannot continue to stand by and watch as our people are senselessly killed and kidnapped by bandits, herders, and kidnappers," he declared. The statement did not provide specific details about the size, composition, or armament of the proposed network, but Igboho has previously led local vigilante efforts in Oyo and Ogun states, including a high‑profile operation in Igangan in 2020 that resulted in the eviction of suspected criminal herders.
The request comes at a time of heightened security alert in Oyo State following the May 15 school abductions. Security agencies have since arrested six suspected informants and confined the kidnappers within the Old Oyo National Park axis, but the 46 victims, including a two‑year‑old toddler, remain in captivity. Governor Seyi Makinde has declared that his administration will not surrender to terror but is prepared to listen to the abductors' demands. Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Oyo State chapter, declared Wednesday, May 20, as a day of prayer and fasting for the release of the captives. Igboho's offer of a volunteer security network adds a new dimension to the debate over how to address rural insecurity, which has seen the Federal Government resist the establishment of state‑based police forces while South West governors have expanded the Amotekun corps.
Reactions to Igboho's statement have been mixed. Some residents of Oyo State welcomed the offer, noting that Igboho had previously demonstrated effectiveness in confronting criminal elements when official security responses proved inadequate. Others expressed concern about the implications of a non‑state actor operating a private armed network, even with government approval. Human rights groups have previously raised alarms about extrajudicial actions by vigilante groups, while security agencies have historically been wary of ceding operational control to civilians. The Federal Government has not yet issued an official response to Igboho's request, and it remains unclear whether the South West governors or the police leadership are willing to entertain the proposal.
For the parents of the 46 kidnapped children and teachers, however, the debate over legal frameworks and security protocols is secondary. They want their loved ones back, alive. Igboho's promise to "invade the forests and drive out the marauders" offers a glimmer of hope, but without government consent, his forces remain on standby. As the fifth day since the abduction dawns over Oyo State, the question is no longer about who has the best plan, but about who can act first, and who can act now.
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