Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has launched the Iru Ekun Security Network in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as part of efforts to expand a community-based security initiative across the South-West and neighbouring areas.
The security network was inaugurated at Mapo Hall on Sunday, with Igboho’s media office claiming that no fewer than 20,000 volunteers had joined the initiative.
According to the statement, the network is intended to strengthen community security and support efforts to tackle criminal activities across Yorubaland and parts of Kwara and Niger states.
The launch followed earlier inaugurations of the initiative in Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states, according to the statement.
Network Targets Community Security
The organisers said Iru Ekun was established to encourage community participation in addressing security challenges, including kidnapping, killings and other criminal activities.
The initiative is also said to involve engagement with traditional rulers and community leaders across the South-West.
Igboho explained that his recent visit to Abuja was connected to efforts to strengthen the network’s operations and improve its effectiveness across the region.
He reportedly described the initiative as one developed through engagement with traditional rulers and other stakeholders interested in improving community safety.
The organisers also said the reported participation of thousands of volunteers reflected residents’ willingness to contribute to security efforts in their communities.
However, the figure of 20,000 volunteers was provided by Igboho’s media office and was not independently verified in the information available.
Claims of Cooperation With Security Agencies
Statements from the organisers have also referred to cooperation with established security institutions, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services.
The extent and formal structure of any such cooperation were not independently established in the material available for this report.
The relationship between community security initiatives and Nigeria’s established security agencies remains an important consideration, particularly where volunteer networks are expected to assist with crime prevention.
Effective community security arrangements require clear responsibilities, lawful operating procedures and coordination with the appropriate authorities.
Any initiative operating in this area must also respect the rights of residents and avoid actions that could undermine public safety or the rule of law.
Political Dimension of the Launch
Igboho’s launch of the security network also carried a political dimension.
The activist reportedly thanked President Bola Tinubu and traditional rulers for their support, while calling on Nigerians and members of the network to support the President’s re-election bid in 2027.
The appeal comes as political mobilisation intensifies ahead of the next general election, with parties and their supporters seeking to consolidate backing across different regions.
The security network’s stated objectives and the political endorsements associated with its launch are separate matters, however, and should be assessed independently.
Its effectiveness will ultimately depend on its organisation, the credibility of its membership claims, its relationship with established security agencies and its ability to contribute lawfully to the protection of communities.
The launch marks a further development in community security mobilisation in the South-West, although the network’s operational structure and the reported scale of its participation will require further verification.