The Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM) has warned governors in Nigeria’s South-West as well as those of Kogi and Kwara to ready their states for security consequences if the United States carries out a proposed strike on insurgent strongholds in the North.
In a statement signed on Friday by General Secretary Poloola Ajayi and Publicity Secretary Suleiman Sanusi, the group warned that an American military action could displace militants, pushing them to migrate southward and create fresh security risks for the more industrialised South-West.
The AYDM said recent comments by US President Donald Trump — who described attacks on Christians in Nigeria as an “existential threat” and pledged on Truth Social that the US “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening” — raise the prospect of direct intervention.
The statement noted that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and requests for congressional probes add momentum to the possibility of action.
If carried out, the AYDM warned, strikes against northern hideouts would likely scatter terrorist networks and drive fighters toward southern regions.
The group specifically urged the governors of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Kwara and Kogi to shore up defences and intelligence capabilities.
The officials named were: Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara) and Usman Ododo (Kogi).
AYDM called for coordinated state-level preparations — improved local intelligence, closer collaboration with community and self-determination groups, and stronger community protection measures — to limit the risk of insurgent infiltration.
The statement acknowledged that Nigeria lacks the capacity to prevent an external strike and argued that usual tactics such as funding protests or running propaganda would not prevent US action; instead, the organisation urged measured preparation to protect the dignity and security of the Yoruba people.
The AYDM also said violent extremism has harmed both Christians and Muslims, with severe impacts in the Yoruba and Middle Belt areas.
It claimed there is an “open agenda to Islamise Nigeria” and urged Yoruba leaders to respond decisively to safeguard their communities.
The group accused some political and religious figures of hypocrisy for publicly opposing possible US intervention without offering viable alternatives, charging that such leaders show indifference to mass killings.
Finally, AYDM welcomed the idea of sanctions against individuals and states alleged to support terrorist financing and called for tougher action against those promoting Sharia expansion in the South-West.
It also proposed establishing a regional Intelligence Gathering Bureau to monitor extremist activity and counter propaganda.
