Alaafin condemns threats against Ira, Inaja, Aho communities, seeks urgent security action
pannigeriannews
2 min read
The Palace of the Alaafin of Oyo has expressed grave concern over a threatening letter allegedly dropped at the Ira market area, targeting the communities of Ira, Inaja and Aho in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, vowing to strike “anytime soon.”
In a statement signed by his Personal Assistant, Revd. Dr. Dele Kolade, the Alaafin described the letter, said to bear a spurious identity, as a calculated attempt to intimidate residents and instil fear.
He strongly condemned the threat as cowardly and unacceptable, warning that no Nigerian community should be forced to live under the shadow of terror or face displacement from ancestral lands by faceless criminals.
The Palace noted that Ira holds deep cultural importance in Yoruba history as the ancestral hometown of Oya, wife of Sango. It stressed that communities with such heritage—and indeed all communities across Nigeria—deserve to live in peace, dignity and security.
Describing the threats as a direct challenge to the authority of the Nigerian state and an assault on citizens’ fundamental rights, the monarch said criminal elements have no right to dictate how people live, where they farm, trade, worship or raise their families. He cautioned against normalising insecurity, warning that rumours, threats and unchecked violence must not be allowed to empty villages or shut markets.
While acknowledging ongoing efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kwara State Government to address insecurity, the Alaafin called for intensified, sustained and well-coordinated security operations, particularly in rural and forest-border communities.
Protection, he emphasised, must be consistent and effective, not occasional or symbolic.
The statement further urged strengthened intelligence gathering, enhanced inter-agency cooperation and proactive prevention strategies, alongside closer engagement with local communities and traditional rulers to ensure early warning and timely intervention. Clear and steady communication, it added, would help calm fears, counter misinformation and reinforce public trust.
Reaffirming solidarity with the people of Ira, Inaja and Aho, the Alaafin advised residents to remain calm but vigilant, cooperate fully with security agencies and promptly report suspicious activities, while refraining from actions that could undermine the rule of law.
The Palace also disclosed that the monarch remains in close consultation with other Yoruba leaders, including the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, as well as royal fathers and community stakeholders nationwide, to ensure coordinated advocacy and support for the affected communities.
Issuing a stern warning to perpetrators and their sponsors, the Alaafin declared that criminals would not be allowed to create no-go areas or rule by fear, stressing that the state must pursue them with lawful force and ensure justice.
The statement also offered prayers for protection for the people, comfort for affected families, strength for security personnel and enduring peace across all communities.
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