The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed concern over what it described as the growing invasion of terrorists and bandits in Southwest Nigeria, urging governments and security agencies to intensify efforts to restore security in the region.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, the group said the alarm was prompted by the increasing devaluation of human life across several states in the region.
It noted that incidents of kidnapping, killings and attacks on communities have become frequent, with victims often subjected to brutal treatment.
The group cited several recent cases, including attacks in Ondo State, where churches, police stations, private homes and highways have reportedly come under assault. It also pointed to incidents in Kwara State where entire communities were displaced by armed groups.
According to Afenifere, farmers have been killed in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, while travellers have repeatedly been attacked along the Igbeti–Kisi road. The group also referenced a disturbing incident in Ekiti State, where kidnappers reportedly killed their victim and later demanded items before releasing the body to the victim’s family.
Describing the act as a clear display of cruelty, Afenifere said the attackers demanded N1.5 million, Indian hemp, cocaine, a synthetic drug known as ICE and cartons of canned beer before handing over the corpse.
The organisation called on federal and state authorities to take decisive action to curb the escalating insecurity and protect lives and property across the Southwest.
“The kidnappers even hilariously asked for virgins to be brought in exchange for four men that they earlier abducted as part of the ransom.
“Up till the recent past, the home environment used to be considered as ‘safe haven’. Unfortunately, the situation is no longer so. A couple was attacked right in front of their home in Akure, Ondo State with the husband shot while trying to prevent his wife from being abducted.
“Elder Igwe, father of former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, was abducted on his way to church on Sunday, March 1, a family in Erinmope-Ekiti was attacked with five members whisked away at 7 pm when people were in the mosque for the evening prayer just as bandits reportedly went from house to house in Kubwa, Abuja on Tuesday this week, robbing and abducting people.
“In a similar manner, routine attacks lasting hours continually occur in Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Borno, Kebbi, Nassarawa, Niger, Katsina and Kaduna. Returning refugees from Cameroun were also attacked in Bauchi State. The list is long.”
Afenifere’s spokesman recalled the saga of one of the kidnappers of a medical doctor and his brother in Benin, Edo State.
“He and his gang had killed the younger brother of the doctor and released the doctor after collecting ransom. The daughter of one of the kidnappers fell ill. He and a partner took the girl to hospital where and when the abducted but released doctor was on duty. The doctor recognized his abductors and got the police to arrest them.
“The point here is that the bandit values the life of his daughter (by seeking health for her when she fell ill) but saw nothing wrong in killing other people”.
Ajayi who said that instances of terror acts and kidnapping are numerous was emphatic that the problem is not insurmountable as bandits are not spirits or invisible, nor invincible.
He submitted that one of the ways to tackle the challenge should be blocking the sources of funding for these bandits.
“The sources including some unscrupulous wealthy individuals, organizations (local and international), some state actors as well as communities paying protection money (sometimes known as ‘protection levies’ or ‘harvest fees’) ransoms being collected from captives and from outright stealing.
“Government should also look in the direction of foreign interests engaged in illegal mining without the intention of following normal procedures as possible masterminds of the outright sacking of communities.
“Confessions of some of them that had been apprehended and tried revealed that they had sponsors. As such, what needed to be done include going decisively after the sponsors of the bandits and their middlemen, blocking the sources of their funding and weapons, raiding the bushes in which they harbour, effectively block corruption and sabotage in the forces, empowering and motivating security personnel as well as the immediate take-off of state police.
In this respect, Afenifere lauds President Bola Tinubu for being resolute in getting state police off the ground, going by, among others, his call on the National Assembly to expedite action in amending the relevant sections of the constitution to enable state police take-off immediately.
The new IGP, Mr. Tunji Disu, was also lauded for his commitment as seen in his inauguration of a committee to work on the modality for state police.
Afenifere reiterated its call on governments of the Southwest to immediately put in place mechanisms to raid bushes where these bandits are hiding, maintain regular surveillance of the bushes and co-operate with the federal government to ensure the prompt take-off of state police in their respective states.
