The Igbomina Professional Association has expressed deep concern over the escalating wave of insecurity affecting villages, families, and communities across Igbomina land and Kwara South.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Association's President, Bode Iranloye, acknowledged the efforts of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the chairmen of the Igbomina Local Government Areas Ifelodun, Irepodun, Isin, and Ekiti and relevant security agencies in tackling the growing threats.

However, Iranloye stressed that more coordinated, sustainable, and community-driven strategies are urgently needed to confront the recurring menace, which he said is undermining peace, agriculture, commerce, and everyday communal life.

The Association emphasised that security agencies alone cannot resolve the crisis, and that lasting solutions require the combined efforts of citizens and security experts working in partnership.

Among the measures recommended, the Association called for the strengthening of community security structures by integrating vigilante groups and hunters with the Nigerian Police under proper regulation and empowering traditional rulers to play a more active role in intelligence gathering.

It also urged economic empowerment and job creation through skill acquisition centres, agricultural support schemes, and digital training hubs to reduce youth unemployment and poverty-driven crime.

The Association further highlighted the need for education, enlightenment, and value reorientation, advocating for a revival of Omoluabi values of discipline and integrity through moral and religious education, coupled with sustained public sensitisation campaigns against crime.

On technology and intelligence, Iranloye recommended deploying drones, emergency hotlines, and community alert apps for early warning systems, while enhancing data collection on residents and visitors at the local government level.

The Association also called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, including the Police, NSCDC, DSS, Amotekun, and the Military, with particular attention to border communities adjoining Kogi, Ekiti, and Osun States.

The statement highlighted the need for political will and good governance, stressing the importance of the sincerity of leadership, equitable enforcement of the law, and improved welfare for security personnel. Dialogue and conflict resolution mechanisms were also urged, including sustaining farmer-herder peace platforms, convening regular youth town halls, and holding periodic security reviews at the local government level.

Additionally, the Association emphasised the crucial roles of citizens and the media, encouraging community vigilance through the "see something, say something" approach, responsible parenting, and proactive media engagement to inform the public and counter misinformation.

"The Association further urges the government and relevant agencies to identify displaced persons and provide relief materials to complement the support already offered by host communities," the statement read. It also stressed the urgent need for a permanent Army base in the affected area.

Iranloye concluded that lasting peace in Igbomina land requires the joint commitment of government, traditional institutions, religious bodies, the media, and citizens, while also addressing poverty, unemployment, and moral decay to ensure sustainable peace in Kwara South and Nigeria at large.