Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The founder of the Iru Ekun Security Network, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has issued a direct and controversial order to his newly inaugurated operatives: kill any armed bandit or kidnapper encountered during operations, regardless of their ethnic background. Igboho gave the directive on Thursday, September 3, 2026, while addressing members of the security network during its formal launch in Akure, the Ondo State capital. The Yoruba Nation activist's declaration has drawn significant attention, effectively sanctioning the extrajudicial execution of suspected criminals across the South-West.
During the inauguration, Igboho was unequivocal in his instructions to the volunteers. "If you are in the bush or anywhere and you meet any bandit with guns, kill him, and if you see any Yoruba person collaborating with these bandits, the person too," he declared. He extended the order to cover all ethnicities, stating, "If you see any Igbo person involved in kidnapping, kill him too. If you meet any Hausa person with guns involved in kidnapping, kill him because we can't be wasting time". However, he also warned his operatives against attacking innocent Hausa and Igbo residents, stressing that the operations are targeted at suspected criminals and not any ethnic group.
Explaining his reasoning for bypassing the conventional justice system, Igboho expressed a deep-seated distrust in the legal process. "If we hand them (bandits) over to police, they will go to court, and likely after jail they will return to the crime. They are like the proverbial dog that will return to eating faeces," he said. He argued that the only effective way to curb banditry is to eliminate the threat permanently, stating, "The only way we can curb banditry is that anyone found with arms and confirmed a bandit should be killed".
Despite the aggressive "shoot-to-kill" order, Igboho stressed the importance of discipline and coordination with official security agencies. He urged members of the network to alert the police and other security agencies when they discover the activities of suspected bandits and kidnappers. He specifically instructed them to report suspicious activities along highways and in their communities before confronting criminals. He also acknowledged the tactical support of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Department of State Services (DSS) in the network's operations.
Igboho's statement comes as part of the ongoing expansion of the Iru Ekun Security Network across the South-West, which was established to complement the government's efforts in tackling kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes. He has claimed that the network's operations, backed by security agencies, have already contributed to a reduction in criminal activities in rural and agrarian communities. He vowed to sustain the onslaught until the region's forests, highways, and communities are completely safe.
The development has sparked a debate over the role of community-based security outfits and the legitimacy of extrajudicial actions. While the Ondo State Government and traditional rulers have reportedly backed the Iru Ekun network, the directive raises significant legal and human rights concerns, placing the new security network at the center of a controversial approach to tackling Nigeria's security challenges.
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