Remove Kwara, Kogi West From Northern Classification, Reclassify Them As Yoruba Territories Amid Insecurity, Yoruba Union Urges Tinubu

Ikeja, Lagos State– The Yoruba Union, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has called on President Bola Tinubu to exercise presidential authority to formally remove Kwara State and parts of Kogi State from the classification as “northern states,” insisting that the regions are historically and linguistically Yoruba and should not be subjected to what they described as political and cultural misrepresentation.

In a statement issued on Sunday, jointly signed by the Convener, Olusola Badero, and the Home Director, Princess Balogun, the group emphasised that Kwara South, Kwara Central, and Kogi West are predominantly Yoruba-speaking regions with cultural and ancestral ties to the Yoruba nation.

They maintained that categorising them as “northern states” undermines their identity and exposes them to systemic marginalisation.

The statement expressed deep concern over escalating insecurity in the region, alleging that Fulani herders, operating under the guise of cattle rearing, have been responsible for killings, kidnappings, and violent land grabs.

According to the union, more than ten Yoruba local vigilantes and forest guards were recently killed in Kwara South on Sunday morning, in attacks carried Fulani herders.

The group accused the federal government of arming these individuals.

“It is disheartening that Miyetti Allah members, who have been implicated in attacks on our people, are the same individuals who were given AK-47 rifles to ‘protect’ us. How can murderers be assigned as protectors? It is nothing short of betrayal,” the statement read.

The Yoruba Union warned that President Tinubu would be judged harshly by history if he failed to act decisively to protect Yoruba people in Kwara and Kogi West.

“Kwara and Kogi West are Yoruba-speaking regions. To classify them as ‘northern’ is a fraud and a deliberate act to rob our people of their rights,” the group said.

“We demand that President Bola Tinubu immediately correct this historic anomaly by removing Kwara and Kogi West from the northern classification. If he fails to act now, history will not forgive him for complicity through silence and inaction as Yoruba lives continue to be lost.”

“Mr. President should understand that his own people have become vulnerable in their ancestral lands. If he refuses to intervene, his silence will be seen as complicity. He must withdraw the so-called ‘Bororos’ deployed to Kwara South with immediate effect and ensure the protection of Yoruba lives and property,” the group insisted.

“How can Yoruba-speaking communities be labeled as northerners? It is fraudulent and unjust. Our official language is Yoruba, not Hausa, and our people have never identified as Fulani or Hausa,” they declared.

On the rising wave of insecurity, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá stated that Yoruba communities are under siege, with farms being destroyed, women raped, and families displaced by violent attacks.

“This is nothing but a calculated attempt to take over our ancestral homes. The Nigerian government must stop arming the very group that is terrorising us. These so-called herders have turned into marauders determined to erase our presence in our own homeland,” the statement said.

Beyond its demands to the government, the Yoruba Union appealed to Yoruba communities at home and in the diaspora to unite in providing humanitarian and logistical support to local vigilante groups across Yoruba land.

The group also extended solidarity to the families of the slain vigilantes, describing them as heroes who sacrificed their lives in defense of their land.

“We commiserate with the families of our gallant defenders who died while serving humanity. We pray to God to console their loved ones and strengthen the resolve of our people to resist invasion,” the union said.

They particularly commended the uncompromising local vigilantes who, despite limited resources, have remained steadfast in their commitment to protecting Yoruba territories.

“This is not just a call for reclassification but a demand for survival. The Yoruba race cannot and will not be subjected to a fraudulent northern identity or left at the mercy of armed aggressors parading as herders. The time for decisive action is now.”

“The Yoruba nation world-wide must not abandon these brave men. They are the last line of defense against an existential threat. Their sacrifices must be recognised, and their families must be supported,” the statement added.