The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has sparked fresh concerns over security in Yorubaland after a video showing him inspecting a group of men described as his militia circulated on social media.
In the video shared on November 7 by a social media user, @DPrince-jay, the monarch was seen moving around the assembled men as they stood in formation and rendered military-style salutes to him.
The group was reportedly operating under the command of the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh Daood Imran Molaasan, with the alleged responsibility of protecting the monarch and advancing his ideological interests in Iwo and across Yorubaland.
The development has raised questions about the group’s mandate, operational structure and the extent of its activities, particularly amid concerns about the emergence of quasi-military formations linked to traditional and religious authorities.
The development comes against the backdrop of previous controversies surrounding the relationship between the Oluwo and Molaasan, whom the monarch appointed Grand Mufti of Yorubaland in 2021.
The appointment was reportedly aimed at advancing a new Islamic leadership structure among Yoruba Muslims.
The cleric is associated with Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen, which operates a security arm known as the Jaysu Security Network.
The Oluwo had previously defended the organisation against allegations linking it to terrorism, describing it as a local security outfit working with the police to combat criminal activities in Iwo.
The monarch’s activities have also attracted scrutiny from the Osun State Government, which recently warned against utterances capable of triggering religious and inter-town conflicts.
The government reportedly directed the State Council of Obas to monitor developments surrounding the monarch.
The latest video has renewed calls for security agencies to investigate the group’s activities and establish whether its operations comply with existing laws governing security organisations in Nigeria.
Observers have warned that the emergence of armed or quasi-military groups under traditional or religious leadership could have far-reaching consequences for public safety and peaceful coexistence if left unchecked.
The authorities are yet to publicly clarify the status, mandate and activities of the group shown in the video.
