No Traditional Ruler Supports Terrorists, Olofin of Isheri Defends Monarchs, Backs State Police

Traditional rulers should not be blamed for Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, the Olofin of Isheri, Oba Sulaiman Bamgbade, has said, dismissing claims that some monarchs are collaborating with terrorists and bandits operating across the country.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, the monarch insisted that no king would knowingly allow criminal groups to invade or destabilise the communities under his watch. He argued that many traditional rulers are unfairly accused simply because they lack direct access to security agencies capable of acting on intelligence.

“We have this information that some traditional rulers are complicit in these situations, but I don’t think it’s true,” Bamgbade said. “No traditional ruler would want his town or community raided by these terrorists or bandits, whatever we call them.”

He explained that local leaders often receive valuable intelligence from residents but struggle to relay it quickly due to gaps in the country’s security structure. According to him, the absence of effective communication channels has created the false impression that traditional rulers are aiding criminal activities.

The monarch also renewed his support for the creation of state police, describing it as a long-overdue reform that could significantly improve security, particularly in rural communities. He, however, stressed that traditional institutions must be formally integrated into any new policing framework.

“And that is why we are saying that if these traditional rulers are presented and are part of this security architecture, once this traditional ruler gets information, he passes it to the chairman. The chairman has an express way to giving it to those involved and those that should operate on it,” he said.

Nigeria’s rural communities have remained among the hardest hit by insecurity, with terrorists, bandits and other armed groups carrying out repeated attacks, kidnappings and killings in states including Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, as well as parts of the North Central and South-West regions. The violence has displaced thousands of residents while disrupting farming, education and local economies.

The growing security crisis has strengthened calls for decentralised policing. While the Senate has already passed the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill, President Bola Tinubu has established a Presidential Working Group to develop the legal framework for its implementation. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has opted to advance the Presidency’s version of the state police proposal instead of pursuing its own constitutional amendment.