By Olaoluwa Omotola Oni
Addressing the Security Hurdles Facing Tourism Growth in Oyo State
Oyo State, once celebrated as the cultural and spiritual heartbeat of the Yoruba race, is now gradually losing its historical and tourism appeal to a more dangerous threat — insecurity, illegal occupation, and growing northern influence. This is not just another opinion piece; it is a first-hand account and a call to attention based on experiences from the field.
As a filmmaker, media consultant, and location scout involved in award-winning projects like “Breath of Life”, I have worked closely with cast and crew on iconic shoots across Nigeria. Part of my job includes identifying culturally and historically significant locations suitable for storytelling. Recently, I was scouting a site for a cave sequence and was drawn to the renowned Agbaku Cave, located deep within the Old Oyo National Park.
Agbaku Cave: A Forgotten Fortress of the Yoruba Empire
Agbaku Cave, historically revered as a fortress used by Yoruba royalty and warriors during war times, is large enough to accommodate up to 1,000 people. It lies within Old Oyo National Park, a sprawling reserve that stretches over 2,512 square kilometers, covering ten local governments in Oyo State and one in Kwara State. The park houses ancient ruins of Oyo-Ile, the former political capital of the powerful Oyo Empire, and was upgraded from a forest reserve to a national park in 1991.
One would expect such a site to be preserved and accessible for educational, cultural, and cinematic exploration. But what I encountered painted a grim picture.
“You Can’t Go There—It’s Occupied”: The Invasion of Bandits
Upon visiting the park headquarters along Oyo-Iseyin Road, I was met with armed, uniformed staff—paramilitary rangers who looked more like soldiers than tour guides. When I inquired about visiting Agbaku Cave, the officer told me flatly:
“It is a no-go area. There’s a standing security warning. Nobody is allowed to enter.”
Puzzled, I pressed further and eventually got a ranger to open up—under strict anonymity.
What he revealed shocked me.
According to the officer, armed bandits have taken over the area around the cave. He described them as highly armed, deadly, and better equipped than the forest guards themselves. Some of the attackers, he claimed, kidnap, kill, and extort locals and visitors alike. He alleged that several rangers have been killed in ambushes, and many areas of the park are now "no man’s land."
The Sahelian Pipeline: A Northern Invasion Gone Rogue
The ranger traced the roots of the crisis to the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was widely criticized for allegedly encouraging open borders in the north and for permitting Fulani herders and foreign militias from Chad, Niger, and Mali into Nigerian territories during his regime.
“These people were brought in during elections under promises of support. Now abandoned, they’ve turned to banditry,” the officer said.
This aligns with warnings from activist Sunday Igboho, who was labeled controversial for asserting that Fulani militants had infiltrated Yoruba forests. Recent security operations have indeed led to the arrest of foreign nationals posing as herders but working as informants or illegal miners.
Bani, Kwara State: From Farming Community to Lithium Warzone
The implications of this occupation go beyond Oyo State. In Bani, a quiet town in Kwara State, bandits and illegal miners are now smuggling lithium, a highly sought-after mineral for renewable energy technologies.
An August 2025 investigative report revealed how trucks loaded with lithium leave Bani under the cover of darkness, evading both customs and local security. National Park rangers in a joint operation were ambushed during one raid, and a senior officer was stoned to death by illegal miners.
The global demand for lithium is fueling this chaos, and sadly, the Federal Government is losing billions in revenue to criminal cartels. More importantly, communities and national parks are becoming warzones.
Buhari’s Legacy and Border Politics
The roots of this crisis lie in porous northern borders, where families and tribal affiliations extend across Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Former President Buhari once said:
“I have cousins in Niger Republic,” while justifying the construction of a railway linking Katsina State to Maradi in Niger.
Today, we see foreign flags waved in northern protests, Chadian and Nigerien politicians attending rallies in Kano and Katsina, and increasing Sahelian influence in Nigerian domestic affairs—a trend that is alien to the people of Southern Nigeria.
The Collapse of Cultural Tourism in Oyo State
The most tragic consequence of this insecurity is the slow death of cultural tourism in Oyo State.
Visitors no longer feel safe traveling to Old Oyo National Park.
Heritage sites like Agbaku Cave remain under militant control.
Local economies dependent on tourism are collapsing.
Global filmmakers and production crews are forced to look elsewhere due to safety concerns.
Despite Governor Seyi Makinde’s efforts to attract investment and promote peace in Oyo State, federal inaction and cross-border insurgency have tied his hands.
Conclusion: Reclaiming Our Forests and Identity
Tourism is not just about economic development—it is about identity, history, and pride. What is happening in Oyo State is an attack on Yoruba heritage, an erosion of safety, and a theft of opportunities.
If the government fails to reclaim these lands from bandits and illegal miners, Nigeria risks losing its cultural assets to foreign-backed terror and greed. The South must rise to protect what remains of its legacy, while demanding stronger border controls, military operations, and constitutional reforms that protect indigenous land from unlawful occupation.
#SaveOyoHeritage 🇳🇬 | #OldOyoPark | #AgbakuCave | #TourismUnderSiege | #StopBanditry | #SecureOurForests | #NorthernInvasion | #IllegalMiningCrisis | #FulaniMilitants | #YorubaAwakening | #LithiumLooting | #ProtectYorubaLand | #BuhariLegacy | #BorderInsecurity
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