Following recent kidnappings in the Oriire Local Government Area, diverse stakeholders gathered in Oyo State to demand a unified approach against insecurity. The assembly, which included security officials, Fulani leaders, farmers, and traditional authorities, emphasized that crime must be addressed as an individual act rather than an ethnic matter.
Ibrahim Jiji, convener and chairman of the Oyo State Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, warned that painting the entire Fulani community as criminals leads to unfair discrimination. He urged both Fulani and Yoruba residents to expose wrongdoers within their own circles to maintain local order. Representing the national leadership of MACBAN, A.B. Danmasani praised the current harmony in Oyo as a potential national model, while others highlighted that economic friction between farmers and herders should not be mistaken for deep-seated enmity.
Local government representatives and security agencies, including the police and the Amotekun Corps, advocated for stronger community policing. They suggested that traditional rulers serve as vital links in rural security communication. Participants collectively pledged to improve intelligence sharing, noting that trust-building remains essential to preventing further social division and ensuring that innocent citizens are not unfairly targeted by broad generalizations.
