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Ile-Ife, Osun State | By Prime Brief Media

Yoruba traditionalists and monarchs have agreed with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, that traditional spiritual powers can be deployed to fight terrorists and bandits ravaging parts of Nigeria.

The Ooni had earlier tasked traditional rulers across Yorubaland to deploy their ancestral powers to fight insecurity, saying: "We must bring together our traditional powers, spiritual heritage, and communal values to chase bandits, kidnappers, and all criminal elements out of Yorubaland."

The Olojudo of Ido, Oba Ayorinde Ilori‑Faboro, told journalists that "traditional spiritual means could be used to tackle insecurity and such powers remain effective when properly applied." He added that monarchs are turning to ancestral powers because modern security approaches have failed.

However, some residents dismissed the claim, arguing such powers have no place in the era of AK‑47 rifles and atomic bombs. "How can juju stop a bullet?" a resident asked.

Monarchs say the resort to traditional powers is due to helplessness in the face of insecurity, as armed herders destroy farmlands with impunity and the government appears unable to protect them. The Ooni's proposal has sparked a national debate on the role of traditional spirituality in modern security.

Prime Brief Media will continue to follow reactions to this development.