Ooni urges Yoruba monarchs to deploy traditional means against banditry

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, urged Yoruba traditional rulers to deploy ancestral means to combat the growing menace of banditry in the region. Speaking at the grand finale of the 2026 Ifa festival, he emphasized collaboration among traditional institutions, government, and security agencies. He also offered special ancestral prayers for the safe release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in recent attacks in Oyo and Borno states.