The Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, over allegations that members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association were armed to operate in Yoruba-speaking communities in Kwara and parts of Kogi States, despite escalating insecurity in the region.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the group expressed alarm that the alleged arming of Miyetti Allah members occurred at a time when local vigilantes, hunters and community-based security groups were reportedly sidelined or disarmed, even as kidnappings and violent attacks continue to rise.

The statement, signed by the Union’s Convener, Olusola Badero, and released through its Home Director, Princess Balogun, called on President Tinubu, NSA Ribadu, and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to urgently explain the rationale behind the alleged decision.

According to the organisation, if the allegations are confirmed, they raise serious questions about the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting indigenous Yoruba communities, particularly as many residents have consistently linked recent attacks in rural areas to armed herders.

“Why is the Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser, allegedly supplying arms to Miyetti Allah to ‘protect’ Yoruba people in Kwara and Kogi, while local vigilantes and hunters—who understand the terrain and have defended their communities for years—are being sidelined?” the group asked.

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá recalled that as far back as September, residents of several Kwara communities had raised concerns that Miyetti Allah members were being invited and armed under the guise of providing security. At the time, both the Kwara State Government and Miyetti Allah reportedly denied the claims. However, the group said recent developments appear to lend credibility to those earlier warnings.

The organisation described the situation as “deeply disturbing,” arguing that empowering a non-indigenous group in predominantly Yoruba-speaking areas undermines trust and worsens insecurity.

“Why equip Miyetti Allah in a state where they are not indigenous, when there are organised local vigilantes and hunters who know the forests, farmlands and escape routes used by kidnappers?” the group queried.

The union also cited a recent incident in Auchi, Edo State, where some suspected Miyetti Allah members were reportedly arrested with ammunition and a Kwara State security vehicle. The suspects allegedly claimed the vehicle was supplied by the Ilorin government and that ammunition was provided by an individual identified as “Victor.”

Describing the development as alarming, the group questioned why armed operatives allegedly linked to Kwara State would be operating in another state.

It further referenced another case in which a man allegedly found in possession of a rifle traced to the Office of the National Security Adviser was arrested while attempting to flee Kwara State. The suspect reportedly confessed to being a Miyetti Allah member.

“Why would any member of Miyetti Allah be in possession of an NSA-issued rifle? And why are communities repeatedly linking kidnappings to armed herders, while the same group is allegedly being armed by the state?” the organisation asked.

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá also criticised President Tinubu’s silence on the matter, noting that insecurity continues to worsen across Kwara, Kogi and other parts of the country, with hundreds of Nigerians kidnapped in recent months.

The group warned that arming non-state actors under any justification could create a dangerous precedent, encouraging widespread arms proliferation and deepening national instability.

It called on civil society organisations, traditional leaders and concerned Nigerians to demand transparency and accountability from both the Federal Government and the Kwara State Government.

“If this issue is not properly addressed, a time may come when people will openly carry ammunition, citing Miyetti Allah as precedent. This is a recipe for unrest and national instability,” the statement warned.

The organisation insisted that the safety of Yoruba communities must not be compromised, stressing that any security arrangement that excludes indigenous participation and accountability will only fuel mistrust and insecurity.