Sharia law expansion can fuel conflict in S’West, says Catholic Church
• DSS DG: Security agencies can’t protect everyone, communities must defend themselves
• Otu renames security outfit in Cross River
• Army assures Amotekun of synergy in tackling insecurity in Ondo
Alarmed by the infiltration of bandits, Boko Haram and ISWAP elements who are being flushed out from Northwest and Northeast forests in the Southwest, the Southwest Governors’ Forum rose from its meeting yesterday and vowed to strongly counter any form of security threats into the region, especially ISWAP activities.
This is coming a week after monarchs in the zone promised to activate the traditional means of securing the zone in the bid to ensure the Southwest is not turned into a haven for bandits or insurgents.
The governors therefore agreed to appoint special advisers on security in each state to serve on a joint surveillance monitoring team to be established in the Southwest as part of efforts to coordinate security efforts across the region.
The Governor of Lagos State and Chairman of Southwest Governors’ Forum, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stated this while briefing the media on the resolution of the almost four-hour meeting held at Lagos House, Ikeja.
Aside from the host governor, Sanwo-Olu, also in attendance were Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Biodun Oyebaniji (Ekiti), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).
The new team, which is yet to be named, according to the governors, would be tasked with combating all forms of banditry and other crimes in the region. There currently exists a security outfit known as ‘Amotekun’ in the Southwest States established in January 2020. The governors did not say whether the new outfit being planned would be incorporated into the existing one.
Sanwo-Olu, who read the communiqué, said after exhausting deliberation on key issues affecting the region and the country at large, acknowledged the threats posed by ISWAP activities in some parts of the Southwest.
“The forum encourages the enhanced collaboration between the police and our various local security outfits while urging them to remain vigilant. The forum is committed to deploying advanced technology, including area surveillance systems that will enhance security operations.
Additionally, the forum resolves to strengthen intelligence gathering by fostering a collaboration between our state security operatives, local security networks, and of course the federal enforcement authorities.”
On the South West Development Commission, Sanwo-Olu stated that the forum commended the Federal Government and the National Assembly for establishing the Commission and collectively agreed to situate its headquarters in Ibadan.
Sanwo-Olu stated that the forum recognises the need for food security and as a result encouraged the ongoing collaborative effort among Southwest states, including implementing measures which is aimed at reducing economic inflation in the region.
“We therefore took a view and agreed to establish what we call a Food Inflation Joint Monitoring Team, which will be able to foster inter-state collaboration and mitigate food inflation. ”
WHILE the governors were silent on the fate of Amotekun and the recent calls for the introduction of Sharia panel in the region, the Catholic Church has raised significant concerns over the potential expansion of Sharia law in Southwest Nigeria, warning that such a move could heighten religious tensions and lead to conflict in the region.
This was highlighted during the 5th edition of the media parley with the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) community, held in Abuja. The event featured key church leaders, including Rev. Fr. Lawrence Emehel, Director of the Mission and Dialogue Department, who addressed the discussions surrounding the introduction of Sharia law.
He acknowledged the constitutional allowances for Sharia law in personal matters but urged that it be implemented cautiously to avoid disenfranchising other religious groups. He stressed that any legal reform must ensure inclusivity and respect for religious diversity in Southwest Nigeria.
The CSN official stated: “The question at hand is the introduction of Sharia law in Southwest Nigeria, and the position of the church must be clarified first and foremost. The current desire for Sharia law stems from dissatisfaction with the existing system.
“The church views this situation through the lens of understanding and trust. It is essential to recognise that Southwest Nigeria is a melting pot of diverse religious beliefs. Favouring one group over another could lead to conflict, especially in families with different religious traditions.
“The Catholic Church in Nigeria calls for caution—not to dismiss the legitimate desires of the people, but to acknowledge that we do not exist in isolation. It is crucial that the implementation of these laws does not inhibit or restrict others in their practices. Our identity as Nigerians is paramount, and this must not be undermined. The constitution guarantees religious liberty, but careful consideration is necessary to prevent discrimination or exclusion.”
IN a related development, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has unveiled ‘Operation Okwok’, the new security outfit that takes over from Operation ‘Akpakwu’.
Okwok in the Efik language means bees are known for being super territorial and they don’t play when it comes to defending their hive. Literally, ‘Operation Okwok’ is meant to secure Cross River, stop crime and keep communities safe.
Otu, who renamed the security outfit in Calabar, the state capital, also released 30 vehicles for its operations and other technical equipment. This marks the first phase of a larger plan to deploy a total of 100 vehicles to enhance security operations across the state. He made it clear that “his administration won’t stop until Cross River is the safest state in Nigeria” and warned criminals that “the hive is ready, and the sting is coming.”
Emphasising public participation in security efforts, he urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities. “Security is a shared responsibility. If you see something, say something,” he stated.
The State Security Adviser, Major General Okoi Ubi Obono (rtd), in his remarks, described the initiative as a milestone in the state’s fight against crime. He explained the significance of the new name, Operation Okwok, an Efik word for “bee.”
“Don’t let the sweetness of the bees fool you. Bees are highly territorial and fiercely protect their hive. Just like that, Operation Okwok is here to secure Cross River—producing honey when needed but stinging when provoked,” he said.
THIS is coming as the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, yesterday expressed the need to allow communities some level of armament to be able to defend themselves against invaders. Ajayi stated this in his remarks at the annual maiden lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), which has as its theme, “Mobilising Stakeholders to Curb Insecurity in Nigeria: A Practical Approach,” in Abuja.
Citing examples of ‘Siawas’ and ‘Azare’ people in Bauchi State, the DSS boss said the locals were able to kill all the invaders because they had a better understanding of their environments.
“They did not only repel them, they seized their weapons, and since then, you can attest to me that you hardly hear about them again. This is what the people of Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa also did. They did not only kill the terrorists, they also seized their weapons, and since then you hardly hear about attacks in Tafawa Balewa.
“What I’m trying to say is, the practical approach to mobilising people is that you have to get everyone involved. You do not expect the Nigerian Army, police, or DSS, to protect every Nigerian or every local government. It is not going to work,” he noted.
Ajayi added that the country must create layers of defence to reduce the burden on the national security architecture. This, he said, is to allow the military, police, and other security agencies to deal with the bigger threats and organised crimes.
“But it is impossible for us to deploy to every community in the country. It is unimaginable that any security agencies have the resources to do it. So, as we leave here, we all belong to one community or the other. What we have to start experimenting is how we can make the community be a fist in the first line of defence,” he said.
He added that Nigerians practice a communal culture by doing things together. “We do festivals together. We do ceremonies together. So why can’t we fight some miscreants, some shenanigans among us together? The community should say, you cannot come here. We have to allow some level of armament for the communities and they can serve as the first line of defence,” Ajayi maintained.
MEANWHILE, Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army (NA), Brigadier General Justin Ifeanyi, has assured the Ondo State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as Amotekun Corps, of robust synergy.
According to the Brigadier General, who resumed command at the Artillery a few days ago while on a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the corps, the successes in battling criminality in the state were due to actionable information operatives of Amotekun. Ifeanyi stressed that the information was provided because of the existing synergy among security agencies in the state.
The 32nd Artillery Commander said it was incumbent on him as the new Commander in Ondo State to introduce himself to know the people he would be working with.
He said, “From what I was told, the Army has been working in synergy, particularly at the local level, with your operatives. Most of your men are infused in all the local government areas. They have been passing actionable infor
mation. We want the already established synergy to continue, and we like to move it to the next level.”
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