Southern governors meet in ogun as insecurity crisis deepens nationwide

Seventeen governors from Nigeria’s southern region have converged on Iperu Remo in Ogun State as rising insecurity sweeps across the country. The closed-door meeting is taking place at the private residence of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who currently chairs the Southern Governors’ Forum.

Abiodun confirmed the gathering in a post on his X handle, revealing that the session will also feature a joint engagement with the Southern Traditional Rulers Council. The meeting is expected to strengthen cooperation between political leaders and traditional institutions as the region battles escalating kidnapping, terrorism and violent crime.

According to Abiodun, the arrival of several southern monarchs and regional leaders ahead of the meeting provided an opportunity to “deepen ongoing engagements and align shared expectations”. He added that the presence of traditional rulers would offer crucial guidance as the forum works to chart a path forward for peace and stability.

As the host, Abiodun promised an atmosphere that would encourage “honest dialogue” and stronger collaboration among stakeholders as insecurity intensifies across several states.

The gathering comes just 48 hours after South-West governors held a separate meeting in Ibadan, where they raised alarm over the recent surge in kidnappings and terror-linked attacks. The region has been unsettled by a string of abductions in Kebbi and Niger, where schoolchildren were seized by bandits, alongside the kidnapping of church worshippers in Kwara.

South-West governors also reviewed security operations, including the Amotekun Corps, with fresh plans to boost its capacity as threats evolve. Earlier in February, they resolved to establish a joint surveillance unit to confront terrorism and cushion the impact of soaring food prices.

Their concerns were heightened last week when the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, warned that terrorists and bandits had infiltrated forests in the South-West and were plotting coordinated attacks.