The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has called for an intensified and sustained security architecture in parts of Kwara State following reports of a threatening letter allegedly dropped at a market in Ira community, vowing to launch attacks on Ira, Inaja and Aho in Oyun Local Government Area “anytime soon.”

In a statement issued by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the monarch described the development as a grave provocation and a direct affront to lawful authority, warning that fear must not be allowed to take root in historically significant communities.

The throne said it received reports with “profound concern” that unknown persons left the letter in the Ira market area, allegedly claiming a spurious identity and attempting to incite panic among residents.

“We must not normalise a situation where law-abiding people live at the mercy of faceless criminals,” the Alaafin declared. “We must not accept a reality in which villages empty at the sound of rumours, markets close under threat, and communities look over their shoulders as though fear has become a permanent resident.”

Oba Owoade noted that Ira occupies a revered place in Yoruba history as the ancestral hometown of Oya, wife of Sango, stressing that no community with such heritage, nor any Nigerian settlement, should be forced to contemplate displacement from ancestral lands due to threats from criminal elements.

Condemning the threats “in the strongest terms,” the Alaafin said such acts go beyond intimidating a few villages and instead challenge the authority of the Nigerian state while undermining citizens’ constitutional rights to live, farm, trade and worship in peace.

“These threats emerge against a troubling backdrop of recent terrorist activity in the wider area, an escalation that has already cost lives and destroyed property,” the statement said, warning against treating insecurity in rural communities as a lesser concern compared to major urban centres.

While acknowledging ongoing efforts by the Kwara State Government and the Federal Government to address insecurity, the Alaafin urged more visible, coordinated and sustained deployments, particularly in forest corridors and vulnerable terrains.

“The present situation calls for a sustained and well-coordinated security presence, backed by rapid response mechanisms, to reassure residents that protection is not occasional but consistent, not symbolic but effective,” the monarch stated.

He further advocated strengthened intelligence gathering, inter-agency cooperation and proactive intervention to dismantle criminal networks before attacks occur. According to him, enhanced intelligence sharing and structured community engagement would enable early warning systems capable of preventing violence.

The Alaafin also emphasised the need for clear, steady communication among security agencies, affected communities, and traditional rulers to counter misinformation and calm public anxiety.

Addressing residents of Ira, Inaja and Aho directly, the monarch urged calm vigilance and full cooperation with lawful security agencies, cautioning against reckless or vengeful actions that could undermine the rule of law.

In a stern warning to perpetrators and their sponsors, the Alaafin declared: “Steer clear of Ira, steer clear of Inaja, steer clear of Aho, and steer clear of every lawful community across our land. You will not rule by threat.”

He insisted that security agencies must dismantle criminal networks and ensure that those responsible face justice, reaffirming the commitment of Yoruba traditional leaders to stand in solidarity with threatened communities.

The monarch added prayers for protection, comfort for affected families, and enduring peace across communities living under the shadow of fear.