An Appraisal of the Roles of the Warriors’ Guild in
Addressing Pre-colonial Security Challenges in Okaland South-West Nigeria
Ogunode Sunday Abraham
Adekunle Ajasin University, Nigeria
Abstract
Security
within the context of this paper can loosely be viewed as safety from any form
of attack or harm. It is a term that has different dimensions and meanings in
public safety, defense and military matters. It is the state or feeling of
being safe and protected. Security can equally be seen as having a sense of
protection against loss, attack or harm, or protection against attack from
without or subversion from within. Security is one of the indispensable issues that had always taken
priority position in any human society since ages. Leaders and the led alike
are always concerned with how to ensure their safety in all ramifications and
this has constantly spurred them to fathom measures of ensuring their continued
safety. In pre-colonial Nigeria, ingenious means were employed to address
security challenges by the people and their leaders. In specific terms, this article
is tailored towards an appraisal of the roles of the warriors’ guild in
addressing pre-colonial security challenges in Okaland. The article argues that
the security challenges faced by the people of Okaland in the pre-colonial
times were promptly tackled through collective efforts and of course through
the good leadership provided by the traditional rulers coupled with the
patriotic zeal and bravery showed by the native security group. While the article
acknowledges the fact that no society can exist without having to face some
sort of security challenges, the author is of the view that these security
challenges are surmountable.