The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has called for the urgent integration of traditional institutions and native intelligence into the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy, describing them as essential components of a holistic approach to addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
In a statement signed by his media and publicity director, Bode Durojaiye, on Thursday, the monarch emphasized that lasting security will remain elusive unless development challenges are addressed through a genuinely people-centred development strategy.
Oba Owoade made the call while addressing a combined team of security operatives (including the police, Civil Defense Corps, Amotekun and local security teams) constituted by the palace to curb the infiltration of bandits into the villages and forests around the metropolis and Oke Ogun region.
He noted that traditional rulers and native intelligence remain critical but underutilized assets in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, especially in the areas of community engagement and intelligence gathering.
Alaafin said: “Their deep local roots and implicit trust among the population allow them to access information and foster cooperation that state security agencies often struggle to achieve.
“Traditional rulers are well positioned at the grassroots level to gather ‘native intelligence’ (human intelligence) on the entry and exit of unknown persons, suspicious activities and potential threats.
“Native intelligence complements formal intelligence mechanisms by providing crucial local context, terrain knowledge, and knowledge of local customs and nuances, which is vital for effective counterterrorism operations.”
The monarch noted that the government must take a holistic view on information gathering as a system to address insecurity, adding that it must take into account the need to harmonize the roles of law enforcement and security agencies and the need to deploy the technologies necessary for the identification of a criminal suspect.
“Nigeria is not the only country facing security challenges today. What is critical is how to address those challenges.
“We can sustain national security operations or options using local intelligence gathering in response to a national security threat.
“The Ancient Oyo Empire lasted for over 600 years due to effective native internal security. Three-quarters of the universe is in a state of turmoil due to lack of effective internal security.
“Although the country has abundant resources and has progressively experienced phenomenal growth over the years, it is indisputable that there has been a clear increase in the manifestation of the lack of real development, in terms of the quality of social existence and social relations of the majority of the population,” he added.
He said the decision to create the team is proactive to identify potential threats and take actions to mitigate risks by forming a combined security force.
The combined security team is headed by the Oyo Area Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner Olufemi Abaniwonda.
The combined security forces, according to the monarch, are not only adequately equipped to deal with any criminal threat, but also engage in proactive planning and training to guard against banditry in the villages, forests within Oyo metropolis and Oke Ogun areas.
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