Agbekoya Story Offers Lessons on Insecurity and Governance Failures — Folahan

By Oyeniyi Esan

A scholar and playwright, Yinka Folahan, has cautioned the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against policies and conditions that could recreate circumstances similar to those that led to the historic Agbekoya uprising in Western Nigeria.

Folahan, author of the stage play Agbekoya, said the historical revolt serves as a powerful reminder that persistent government neglect, socioeconomic hardship, and insecurity can push citizens towards self-defence and mass resistance.

Speaking on Friday, Folahan noted that the lessons from the 1967 Agbekoya farmers' revolt remain relevant in addressing Nigeria's current security and economic challenges, particularly the rising cases of kidnapping, banditry, and attacks on rural communities.

According to him, the original Agbekoya uprising was sparked by the failure of the then regional government to address the plight of rural farmers while imposing heavy taxation and other burdens on struggling communities.

"The Agbekoya revolt remains a stark historical mirror and a warning that when governments ignore the welfare and security of the people, citizens may eventually resort to self-help measures," he said.

Drawing parallels between the past and present, Folahan argued that the growing insecurity across parts of the country reflects weaknesses in the nation's security architecture, leaving villages, schools, and farming communities vulnerable to criminal activities.

He noted that many farmers have abandoned their farmlands due to the threat of kidnappers and bandits, resulting in reduced agricultural productivity and worsening food insecurity.

"The farmers of Akanran revolted because systemic neglect threatened their survival and deprived them of their means of livelihood. Today, banditry and kidnapping continue to thrive in ungoverned rural spaces and forests, forcing many farmers off their lands," he stated.

Folahan stressed that security remains the primary responsibility of government, warning that failure to protect lives and livelihoods could erode public confidence in state institutions.

He further observed that the collapse of rural economies often creates conditions that encourage criminality by expanding the pool of unemployed and frustrated youths.

Referring to themes explored in his play, Folahan said Agbekoya highlights how communities often turn to local self-defence mechanisms when they perceive that government institutions can no longer guarantee their safety.

"Driven to the wall by insecurity and state failure, the original Agbekoya movement organized itself to resist oppression. Today, regional security initiatives and community-based groups are increasingly being called upon to complement formal security efforts," he said.

While acknowledging the role of local security structures such as community policing initiatives, Folahan warned against a situation where citizens become fully reliant on armed self-defence.

"When people are compelled to arm themselves for survival, the boundary between organized community defence and uncontrolled non-state actors becomes dangerously thin," he added.

He urged political leaders at all levels to address insecurity, economic hardship, and rural neglect as a matter of urgency.

According to him, sustainable peace can only be achieved when governments effectively protect citizens and ensure justice, economic opportunity, and social inclusion.

"History teaches that peace cannot endure where insecurity and injustice are tolerated. If government institutions fail to respond decisively to the needs of the people, the conditions that produced past uprisings may re-emerge in new forms," Folahan warned.