Yoruba Nation activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has launched the Iru Ekun Security Network in Ibadan, Oyo State, as the initiative seeks to expand community participation in addressing insecurity across parts of south-western Nigeria.
The launch took place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Mapo Hall in Ibadan, bringing attention to the group’s stated objective of strengthening local security efforts in Yorubaland and neighbouring areas.
A statement from Igboho’s media office said approximately 20,000 volunteers had joined the security organisation.
The statement described the initiative as a community-based effort intended to support the prevention of criminal activities and improve security in parts of the South-West, as well as areas of Kwara and Niger states.
According to the statement, the Ibadan launch followed earlier inaugurations and activities in Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states.
It added that the organisation had engaged traditional rulers and community leaders as part of efforts to establish local participation in its security activities.
Igboho also explained his visit to Abuja on Saturday, saying the trip was intended to advance discussions concerning the network’s responsibilities and strengthen its operations across the region.
He reportedly attributed the visit to efforts to improve coordination involving traditional institutions and other stakeholders.
The statement said the initiative was intended to promote peace and improve community safety, while encouraging volunteers to participate regardless of their ethnic, religious or political backgrounds.
It also claimed that the organisation had collaborated with formal security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services, in efforts to address criminal activities.
However, the specific nature and extent of any such collaboration were not independently established in the information available.
The statement further attributed the initiative’s establishment to support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. That assertion should be distinguished from independent confirmation of the network’s formal authorisation, legal status or operational arrangements.
Community-based security initiatives have attracted attention in Nigeria as authorities continue to confront kidnapping, armed attacks and other criminal activities in different regions.
Supporters often argue that local volunteers can provide valuable knowledge of their communities and help identify security threats. At the same time, such initiatives raise questions about training, oversight, accountability, the handling of suspected offenders and coordination with established law enforcement institutions.
The effectiveness of the Iru Ekun Security Network will depend partly on how it operates alongside formal security agencies and whether its activities remain within applicable laws.
The reported figure of 20,000 volunteers was provided by Igboho’s media office and was not independently verified in the information available.
As the network expands, its stated goals of improving community security and preventing crime will need to be assessed against its operational structure, accountability measures and demonstrable results.