LAGOS, Nigeria — The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has issued a stark warning that terrorists and bandits operating from forests across the South-West are preparing coordinated attacks on towns and cities in the region, urging authorities and residents to act urgently to prevent what he described as an “existential threat”.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, Adams said intelligence at his disposal indicated that armed groups had entrenched themselves in forests in Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos and parts of Edo and Delta States.
He said the groups were “waiting for the signal from their foreign sponsors to invade this land, kill mercilessly, and take over people’s ancestral inheritance”.
“These are perilous times in Yorubaland,” he said.
“Merchants of death have surrounded the more than 60 million inhabitants of this geographical space. The bloodthirsty maniacs don’t have good intentions for the peace-loving people of our area.”
Adams criticised South-West governors for failing to respond to a letter he sent more than a year ago proposing a regional security summit to tackle the rising infiltration of forests by armed groups.
“Pitiably, there was no response from them,” he said.
“Now, the danger is staring everybody in the face.”
He warned that the consequences of inaction could be catastrophic.
“If care is not taken urgently, this clear, present, serious and immediate danger has the capability to change the topography, landscape and history of peace-loving Yoruba people,” he said.
“This ‘cancer’ was not given an urgent and decisive operation when I raised the alarm; it is now spreading like wildfire.”
The Yoruba leader said kidnappings, rape, attacks on farmers and rising insecurity were evidence of an expanding network of criminal groups seeking to undermine the region’s economy and stability.
He said the groups were already “mobilising to leave the forests and invade our towns and cities”.
Adams urged communities to strengthen local intelligence networks and increase surveillance.
“This is the time for all Yoruba to be vigilant and be on the alert,” he said.
“This should be done effectively through our local intelligence gathering mechanism because this monster must be fought by all.”
He also expressed support for recent comments by US President Donald Trump, who has threatened military action in Nigeria over widespread killings.
Adams said Western intervention could be necessary if local authorities fail to act.
“If our governors are powerless or, for political reasons, refuse to deal with the situation, it is better for American soldiers to help this land,” he said.
Citing a 2020 US military operation that rescued an abducted American in northern Nigeria, Adams said decisive action was needed to stop the spread of armed groups.
He also noted that the British government recently issued a travel advisory warning its citizens against visiting about 20 Nigerian states due to insecurity, calling the development “embarrassing”.
Adams insisted that security agencies must treat the threat with urgency.
“This existential threat must be tackled immediately,” he said.
“We must wage intelligent war against kidnapping, and the time for that fight is now.”
He called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, farmers, herders, security agencies and stakeholders to come together as originally proposed for a South-West Security Summit, saying, “This is the time for us to act before the situation becomes unbearable.”
