The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has issued a strong call to traditional rulers and devotees across the southwestern region to leverage ancestral institutions and cultural heritage in the fight against banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities threatening Yorubaland.
In a video circulating on social media, the Ooni, who recently made headlines for his meeting with Juju musician King Sunny Ade at an event, urged traditional devotees to take proactive measures in protecting the region. The traditional ruler's spokesperson, Moses Olafare, in a report via Tribune, disclosed that the Ooni made the call during the grand finale of the 2026 Ifa Festival.
Call for Unity and Action
The Ooni emphasized the need for traditional rulers to strengthen cooperation among themselves and work closely with security agencies to rid their communities of criminal elements. He stated, "We must bring together our traditional powers, spiritual heritage, and communal values to chase bandits, kidnappers, and all criminal elements out of Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole. Our ancestors stood for justice, peace, and communal harmony, and we must invoke those values at this critical time."
He further added, "We must rise collectively against the menace of banditry and kidnapping. Enough is enough. Our people deserve to live in peace and move freely without fear. Traditional rulers must take greater responsibility for safeguarding their communities while supporting the government and security agencies."
Acknowledging Government Efforts
The Ooni acknowledged that insecurity remains a major challenge for the federal government but commended President Tinubu's administration for its efforts to address the situation. He stressed that lasting peace requires collective action, saying, "This is a time for unity. The government alone cannot solve the security challenges facing the nation. Traditional institutions, religious leaders, community stakeholders, and citizens must work together in support of ongoing efforts to secure our country."
The Ooni also prayed for the safe return of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo and Borno states.
Public Reactions
The video of the Ooni's address sparked various reactions on social media. One user, podcastAfrique, commented, "lol he’s asking them to make themselves useful for once." Another user, AmiOmotola, said, "Nigeria face your fears, sort your issues. Fight for your lands. Don’t rely only on spiritual powers, we need physical powers." Dblackdread77 added, "He is also a Babalawo, he should tell us what he has also done." KoredeOludiran remarked, "He’s a priest, not a king. He should be the one doing that." Baale_Ibadan reacted, "Let all the pastors, prophets and Alfas go and stop all the terrorist." Olajumokeakina wrote, "Na three in one prayer like dis, church, mosque, babalawo too, oya we want peace in our land."
Ooni Bonds with First Son
In related news, the Ooni of Ife and his first son made waves online over videos of their conversation. The Ooni, delighted to be with his son, stood as the young prince shared what he knew about him, touching his traditional ornaments. Another heartwarming moment occurred when the Ooni jokingly asked his son to bid goodbye to his mother, Olori Naomi Silekunola, but the boy insisted he wanted to stay with his father instead.
