Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, on Wednesday formally inaugurated the Ogun State chapter of the Iru Ekun Security Network, a community-based initiative aimed at supporting efforts to combat insecurity in the South-West.
The inauguration, held on August 26, 2026, attracted a large gathering of supporters and volunteers, with many participants dressed in matching black outfits and caps.
Speaking at the event, Igboho outlined plans for the organisation’s training, deployment and operational structure, while urging members to maintain discipline and avoid misconduct.
“You must have discipline. Do not engage in reckless behaviour or ruin things just because they have trained you and you have ID card,” he told participants, according to reports from the event.
Igboho said the Federal Government would determine who would train members of the network, while the Ogun State Governor’s Office would determine where trained members would be deployed.
He also said members would receive identification cards at the local government level after completing their training.
According to him, the Ogun State Government had given assurances of support and would determine a monthly allowance for members to help them support their families.
Igboho said the broader objective was to secure official identification for members across the South-West so they could operate legitimately while assisting communities in maintaining security.
He compared the initiative with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, saying he hoped Iru Ekun would develop into a recognised community-based security structure.
Iru Ekun, which means “leopard’s tail” in Yoruba, was established by Igboho as a community security initiative to complement existing efforts against kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities in the South-West.
The Ogun inauguration follows earlier launches of the network in other parts of the region. In July, Igboho said more than 80,000 volunteers had registered with the organisation across the South-West, although the figure was his own claim and was not independently verified.
The initiative has also received backing from some traditional rulers. Earlier this month, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, pledged N100 million and a Toyota Hilux vehicle to support the network’s operations.
The expansion of Iru Ekun comes amid renewed efforts by governments, traditional institutions and community groups to strengthen security in the South-West, particularly in rural communities affected by kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Igboho has said the network would operate within the law and work with existing security agencies to improve intelligence gathering and community safety.
