By Ayodele Abere
The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, His Royal Majesty Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, has declared the support of the traditional institution for the newly inaugurated Iru Ekun Security Network, describing it as a welcome community-driven effort to complement government and security agencies in safeguarding lives and property in Ekiti State and across the Southwest.
The royal endorsement was made on Thursday, during a courtesy visit by Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, to the Ewi’s Palace in Ado-Ekiti. The visit was part of activities marking the formal recognition and inauguration of the Iru Ekun Security Network in Ekiti State.
Addressing the monarch, Chief Igboho stated that the Iru Ekun Security Network was conceived to complement the operations of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, DSS, and other statutory security agencies in tackling banditry, kidnapping, and other threats to lives and property.
He disclosed that the network currently has over 120,000 members across the Southwest and will prioritize intelligence gathering, community policing, and collaboration with existing security structures.
Chief Igboho further stated that his return to Nigeria followed due authorization from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and that the initiative was established to contribute meaningfully to peace and safety at the grassroots level.
He expressed appreciation to the Ewi and the Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers for their support, recalling that about 10 traditional rulers from Ekiti attended the burial of his mother, a gesture he described as a demonstration of the goodwill of the people of Ekiti toward him.
In his response, Oba Aladesanmi affirmed that traditional rulers bear a primary responsibility for the security and welfare of their communities, noting that they remain with the people irrespective of changes in political administration.
The monarch stressed that meaningful development cannot occur in an atmosphere of insecurity. He therefore urged members of the Iru Ekun Security Network to operate with integrity, respect constituted authorities and traditional institutions, and work in close synergy with established security agencies.
Oba Aladesanmi also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and called for sustained collaboration among the federal and state governments, traditional rulers, community stakeholders, and security agencies to ensure lasting peace in Ekiti and the entire Southwest.
As part of the event, Mr. Maurice Ilori, popularly known as Ifatosin, was formally inaugurated as the Ekiti State Commandant of the Iru Ekun Security Network.
In recognition of his contributions to peace and security in Ekiti and the Southwest, Chief Jacob Orisamika presented an award of appreciation to Chief Sunday Igboho on behalf of stakeholders in the region.
Speaking to journalists after the palace visit, Chief Igboho emphasized that the Iru Ekun Security Network was not established to undermine or duplicate the functions of conventional security agencies, but to support them.
“My advice to the people of Ekiti is that we must join hands together to ensure peace reigns in this state. We must support our government, our elders, and our traditional institutions to make peace prevail in our land,” he said.
The Ewi and Chief Igboho jointly called on citizens to provide useful information to security agencies and to support all legitimate efforts aimed at protecting communities.
