“History Is Warning Us Again” — Shiek Akewugbagold Raises Alarm Over Rising Insecurity Across Yorubaland in Viral Video
A viral video circulating across social media platforms has sparked intense debate and concern after public affairs commentator Shiek Akewugbagold issued a strong warning about the growing wave of insecurity affecting parts of Southwest Nigeria.
In the emotional video, Akewugbagold questioned the growing confidence among some people who believe Yorubaland can never face large-scale destabilisation, insisting that history has already shown how fear, repeated attacks, and insecurity can gradually weaken even the strongest civilizations.
“Who says they cannot take over Yoruba land?” he asked passionately.
“This was the same playbook that depleted the old Oyo Empire. The terrorists never got to the core center immediately, but they kept terrorising neighbouring Oyo states and allies until fear started to brew and the system weakened from within.”
His comments come at a time when insecurity across Nigeria continues to spread into communities previously regarded as relatively peaceful. Over the last few months, reports of kidnappings, attacks on schools, violent invasions of rural communities, and armed assaults on travelers have increased concerns across parts of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, and neighboring states.
Recent reports confirmed that armed men attacked schools in Oyo State in what security experts described as an unusual escalation for southern Nigeria. Authorities later announced arrests connected to the attack, but the incident further deepened public fears about the spread of criminal networks into the Southwest.
Investigations and security reports by major Nigerian newspapers have also highlighted growing panic in several Southwest communities over increasing cases of abductions and violent attacks. Analysts say insecurity in the region is no longer isolated, but part of a broader national security crisis affecting both urban and rural areas.
Akewugbagold’s warning focused heavily on the psychological effect of insecurity on communities, arguing that fear itself can become a powerful weapon capable of forcing residents out of their ancestral homes.
“Is it not happening right before our eyes today?” he continued.
“How many more Yoruba communities will be attacked or left empty because of fear, abductions, and killings?”
Across several farming communities in Southwest Nigeria, residents have repeatedly complained about attacks on farmers, kidnappings along highways, and growing concerns over safety in forests and border communities. Reports from security analysts indicate that some rural settlements have witnessed population displacement as residents relocate out of fear of violence.
Historical accounts of the decline of the old Oyo Empire have often linked its collapse to prolonged military pressure, weakening control over allied territories, and instability around strategic communities and trade routes. Historians note that while the empire remained powerful at its core for a long period, insecurity and repeated attacks around its surrounding territories contributed significantly to its gradual decline.
In the viral video, Akewugbagold also referenced global political rhetoric while calling for stronger regional consciousness and coordinated responses to insecurity.
“If a saner country like the USA can consider taking Venezuela as its 51st state in the words of Donald Trump, then we should begin to think about taking intentional and intensified actions to save our land,” he declared.
Although political analysts note that the statement attributed to former U.S. President Donald Trump reflects broader geopolitical debates rather than official American policy, Akewugbagold argued that nations across the world prioritize self-preservation, strategic interests, and homeland security whenever they perceive threats to their stability.
His remarks have generated mixed reactions online. While some social media users praised him for speaking boldly about growing insecurity, others cautioned against inflammatory rhetoric and called for calm, lawful, and intelligence-driven approaches to addressing security challenges.
Security experts continue to emphasize that the solution to Nigeria’s insecurity crisis lies in stronger intelligence gathering, effective policing, regional cooperation, community vigilance, and improved support for security agencies. Southwest security outfits such as Amotekun have also intensified surveillance operations in vulnerable rural communities and forest corridors believed to be used by kidnappers and criminal gangs.
Despite differing opinions surrounding the viral video, one reality remains increasingly difficult for many residents to ignore: insecurity is no longer viewed as a distant northern problem. It is now becoming a growing concern for communities across the Southwest, with direct implications for agriculture, education, commerce, transportation, and public safety.
And as fear continues to spread quietly across many vulnerable communities, voices like Shiek Akewugbagold’s are adding to a larger regional conversation about vigilance, unity, and the urgent need for proactive measures before history repeats itself.
0 Comments