The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has urged the Nigeria Police to support efforts to abolish cultural practices he described as outdated, dangerous, and inconsistent with constitutional rights.
The monarch made the appeal in Ikeja, Lagos, during the unveiling of Diary of an Audacious Reformer, a book written in honour of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. The publication highlights the police chief’s rise through the ranks and the reforms credited with strengthening the force.
Speaking during a panel session on “Institutional Collaboration as a Tool for Counter-Terrorism and Crime,” Oba Akanbi called for the elimination of traditional practices that impose forced movement restrictions during festivals, encourage activities of secret societies, or involve rituals he described as crude and unsafe.
He argued that such customs violate human rights and undermine public safety, adding that they should not exist in a modern society.
The monarch declared that his kingdom, Iwo, no longer permits movement restrictions tied to cultural rites. He urged security agencies to collaborate in curbing practices that place citizens at risk.
He also criticised rituals that involve the desecration of shrines, saying ancestral deities should be honoured with dignity rather than through offerings of oil or blood.
Oba Akanbi emphasized that his advocacy against harmful traditions and “mental slavery” requires the active participation of law enforcement agencies. He also called for mutual respect among Nigeria’s ethnic groups, stressing that no one chooses their tribe and that unity is essential for national progress.
He commended Egbetokun for what he described as reform-focused leadership and efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security framework. The Inspector General of Police was represented at the event by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh.
