Ooni of Ife Urges Yoruba Monarchs to Deploy Ancestral Intelligence Against Banditry

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has made a powerful call to traditional rulers across Yorubaland to look inward and deploy ancestral powers, spiritual interventions, and localized intelligence to crush the rising wave of banditry and kidnapping plaguing Southwest Nigeria.The revered first-class monarch delivered this charge during the 2026 World Ifa Festival, held at the ancient city of Ile-Ife. Addressing an assembly of traditional leaders, cultural custodians, and spiritual devotees, the Ooni emphasized that modern security agencies need the active support of traditional institutions to effectively secure the region.The Call for Traditional and Spiritual InterventionAs Nigeria continues to battle complex security challenges, Oba Ogunwusi argued that conventional policing alone is no longer sufficient to protect local communities. He stressed that Yoruba monarchs possess deep-rooted cultural and spiritual heritages capable of deterring criminal elements.Key directives from the Ooni’s address include:Deploying Ancestral Intelligence: Utilizing indigenous spiritual mechanisms to track and neutralize criminal networks.Strengthening Community Policing: Revitalizing local hunter groups, vigilantes, and community watchdogs who understand the terrain.Unifying Traditional Rulers: Forging a cohesive front among Southwest monarchs to prevent bandits from exploiting security gaps between kingdoms.Why Localized Intelligence Matters in Southwest SecurityThe Ooni pointed out that traditional rulers are the closest authorities to the grassroots. Because bandits often hide in vast forests and rural border communities, local hunters and traditional custodians possess the geographical knowledge required to flush them out.By combining spiritual fortification with actionable, local intelligence, the Yoruba traditional institution aims to create a hostile environment for kidnappers and bandits. The monarch noted that returning to these foundational security roots is a necessity for the survival and peace of the region.Preserving Yoruba Heritage Amid Modern CrisesThe annual World Ifa Festival serves as a reminder of the rich spiritual and cultural system of the Yoruba people. By making this security declaration at the festival, the Ooni reemphasized that Ifa and Yoruba traditions are not just historical relics, but active tools for governance, peace-building, and community defense.Moving forward, the Ooni urged all monarchs to discard fear, embrace their ancestral mandates, and work hand-in-hand with state governments to restore absolute peace to the Southwest.