Sunday Igboho Forms 50,000‑Man Vigilante to Counter Southwest Nigeria Kidnappings

Insecurity that began in northern Nigeria has spread to the southwest, where three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State were raided and children abducted. One kidnapped teacher was later murdered, and the hostages remain in captivity after more than six weeks.

President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged the crisis but has been criticised for not deploying the army, navy or air force to rescue the victims, instead seeking external assistance. In response, Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo, known as Sunday Igboho, announced the creation of a regional security outfit called IruEkun (Leopard’s Tail). He claims the group has recruited about 50,000 men to patrol forests across the six southwest states and parts of Kwara and Kogi, aiming to flush out cross‑border bandits and Fulani jihadists alleged to be behind the kidnappings.

Igboho’s move reflects growing local frustration with the federal government’s handling of banditry, while also highlighting broader political tensions over security policy and regional autonomy in Nigeria.