The Isese Welfare Association has urged governors in Nigeria’s South-West and security agencies to formally integrate indigenous security and intelligence systems rooted in Ifa into the region’s fight against rising insecurity.

In a statement issued in Ibadan by its National Coordinator, Aderemi Ifaolepin Aderemi, the association condemned the surge in kidnappings, school abductions and killings across Yorubaland, describing them as an assault on the people, their children, culture and the sanctity of life.

The group cited the abduction of teachers and pupils during coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State as a grim example of a worsening trend. It warned that similar incidents in parts of Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti show that the crisis is no longer a series of isolated attacks but a “dangerous new pattern” threatening the peace and survival of the Yoruba nation.

While acknowledging the efforts of conventional security agencies, the association said current strategies have failed to stem the tide of violence. It called the prevailing silence and perceived inaction “no longer acceptable” and urged leaders to “look inward and mobilise every resource” available.

The association argued that for centuries, Yoruba ancestors maintained order through a blend of spiritual vigilance, communal intelligence and organised defence. Properly regulated, these traditional systems, it said, can complement modern policing by helping to identify, deter and neutralise threats before they escalate.

IWA called on South-West governors, traditional rulers, political office holders, community leaders and security stakeholders to set aside rivalries and work together. It insisted that the safety of citizens must take precedence over politics and personal interests, and urged that schools, farms and sacred groves be designated protected zones.

The group demanded an immediate and visible security presence in vulnerable communities, backed by structured, community-based vigilance networks that draw on both local knowledge and spiritual guidance.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, justice and the preservation of Yoruba religion and culture, the association pledged to keep advocating solutions that respect indigenous heritage while addressing present-day realities. It concluded with a call for wisdom for leaders, strength for the people and lasting peace across Yorubaland.