South West Conference Calls for Unified Action on Security, Rights, Development

By Kemi Folarin, Rotimi Aleshinloye 

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) rising from a South West Strategic Conference on Human Rights, Counter-Terrorism and Sustainable Development, has drawn a wide range of stakeholders to address the growing insecurity in the Zone, charting a path toward a safer, more inclusive society.

Participants at the one day event held in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital included security agencies, traditional rulers, government officials, civil society organizations, women and youth groups, legal practitioners, persons with disabilities, and community leaders. 

Key attendees were the Inspector General of Police, represented by Emmanuel Garba; Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Stephen Ogunmoye, represented by Justice Julius Ajibare; Amotekun Corps, represented by Sunday Oladipupo; the Olomuo of Omuo Kingdom, HRM Oba Dr. Noah Omonigbehin; and representatives from the National Human Rights Commission, POWA, FOMWAN, NUT, NYCN Ekiti State, Nigerian Correctional Service, DSS Ekiti State, 148 Battalion, and the Attorney General of the Federation, represented by Mr. Kunle Akinlabi. 

Also present were former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Seriki Hausa and Seriki Fulani leaders, Igbo community leaders, and CDHR officials across the South West.

In his opening remarks, Comrade Olayinka Folarin, the Lead Representative of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights at the event, called on Nigerians to shift from criticism to solution-driven engagement. 

He said the conference aimed to tackle the root causes of insecurity include poverty, intolerance, exclusion, and underdevelopment and stressed that nation building demands collective commitment.

Representing the Chief Judge, Justice Julius Ajibare lamented rising security threats in the region once known for peace and stability. 

He linked insecurity to poverty, corruption, exclusion, and rights violations, and called for sensitization, accountability, and greater roles for traditional rulers. 

He urged the South-West governors and security agencies to deepen regional collaboration, invest in youth education, skills, and technology, and ensure criminals face justice without abuse of power.

Dr. Michael Olufemi Shodipo, Founder of Peace Initiative Network, argued that counter-terrorism cannot be left to the security agencies alone. 

He emphasized intelligence gathering, community vigilance, and improved inter-agency coordination. 

He further advocated for local policing structures and non-kinetic approaches where force alone fails, noting that “fear is one of the greatest weapons of terrorists.”

Security expert, Dr. Antony Abayomi Adebayo of Federal University Oye Ekiti outlined forms of terrorism to include land, religious, economic, political, cyber, and state-sponsored, noting that each requires tailored kinetic or non-kinetic responses. 

He cautioned that poor monitoring of reintegrated ex-terrorists fuels recurring violence and recommended training for local hunters and vigilantes while strengthening traditional institutions.

Seriki Hausa representative, Alhaji Yusuf decried discrimination against the Hausa community over insurgency stereotypes. 

He highlighted ongoing collaboration with security agencies and called for fairer, unbiased prosecution processes.

The Olomuo of Omuo Kingdom, Chairman of Obas on Security in Ekiti State, insisted that “security is everybody’s responsibility.” 

He called for the need to blend traditional security methods with modern strategies and affirmed citizens’ right to self-defence in life-threatening situations.

Representing the Ekiti State Attorney General, Dayo T. Apata SAN; the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Kunle Akinlabi warned against sacrificing human rights for security. 

He stressed that rights protection is essential for sustainable development and urged non-kinetic approaches, reduced inequality, timely justice, and stronger stakeholder collaboration.

The conference ended with a unified call for actionable strategies, regional cooperation, community participation, youth empowerment, and human rights protection as foundations for lasting peace, security, and development in Nigeria.