Ibadan, Oyo – In a swift response to escalating security alarms across Nigeria's South West region, governors from the six states have gathered for an urgent, closed-door meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Hosted by Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde at the Governor’s Office in Agodi, the unscheduled summit underscores the gravity of recent intelligence reports warning of a potential influx of bandits and terrorists into the area.

The high-stakes assembly includes governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti).

Sources close to the meeting told DAILY South Nigeria, discussions are centered on bolstering regional defenses against "rising security threats and emerging challenges," with a particular focus on the operations of the Amotekun security outfit.

The agenda also encompasses fast-tracking infrastructure projects and advancing the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) to foster stronger regional integration.

While no official communiqués have been released as of press time, the convergence comes against a backdrop of heightened apprehensions over spillover violence from Nigeria's volatile North West and North Central zones.

Just six days ago, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, issued a stark warning that "terrorists and bandits are plotting to attack the South West," citing covert threats to economic stability and national security. Adams emphasized that such incursions could undermine the Yoruba nation's progress, urging immediate vigilance.

Echoing these fears, Ogun State Senator Gbenga Daniel highlighted uncontrolled migration as the "top security threat" in the South West during a recent address on November 22, linking it directly to the influx of armed groups.

Intelligence briefs have further amplified concerns, including alerts of possible bandit attacks on schools and universities in nearby Kogi East, just a day before the governors' meeting.

These developments align with broader patterns of armed banditry driving displacement and protection crises in northern Nigeria, with experts noting a "renewed wave of attacks" by groups often motivated by ransom demands rather than ideology.

The South West, long regarded as a relatively stable economic hub, has seen sporadic incidents of kidnapping and unrest, but the specter of organized banditry typically associated with the North has prompted calls for enhanced collaboration.

Amotekun, the regional vigilante force launched in 2020, is expected to be a key topic, with proposals likely to include capacity-building measures to counter the "bandits influx."

As the meeting unfolds behind closed doors, residents in Ibadan and beyond await concrete outcomes. But for now, the summit serves as a stark reminder of Nigeria's interconnected security landscape, where threats in one region ripple southward.