The prominent pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has voiced strong condemnation following a reported attack on women protesting at the Kwara State Government House in Ilorin. The group linked this incident to a disturbing nationwide surge in kidnapping and banditry, calling for urgent governmental action.
Peaceful Protest Met with Violence
According to reports, women and children from Oke-Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State gathered at the Government House on a desperate Save Our Soul (SOS) mission. Their peaceful demonstration had two clear objectives: to plead for state government assistance in raising ransom money for their kidnapped husbands and children, and to urge authorities to put an end to the frequent terrorist attacks plaguing their communities.
However, the protesters were allegedly flogged by suspected thugs near the entrance of the Government House. The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the incident is under investigation. Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq has also condemned the attack.
Afenifere's Stern Rebuke and Wider Security Concerns
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere maintained that citizens possess an inalienable right to peacefully draw government attention to their plight. The group condemned the assault on the unarmed protesters, who posed no threat.
Afenifere expressed deep concern over the rising insecurity, referencing several recent incidents:
- The attack on Kasuwan Daji in Niger State.
- The December 2025 attack on Ayetoro-Kiri community in Kogi State.
- The abduction of nine persons in Adanla, a suburb of Igbaja in Kwara State.
- The New Year's Eve bombing of a police station in Ipele, Ondo State.
- The killing of the Olukoro of Koro-Ekiti, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, in February 2024.
- The abduction of former Ogun State lawmaker, Honourable Moruf Musa, in December 2025.
The organisation noted that areas like the Benin–Owo–Ipele axis in Ondo, and parts of Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Borno, Zamfara, and Niger states have become notorious for such crimes.
Call for Proactive Measures and State Police
Afenifere criticised the current security approach as being "reactive rather than proactive," suggesting attackers are determined to instil fear and seize control of vulnerable areas. The group identified key challenges overwhelming security agencies, including:
- Lack of necessary tools and enough manpower.
- Paucity of required skills.
- Internal complicity and betrayal.
- Gaps in community-level intelligence gathering.
To win the war against insecurity, Afenifere advocated for a combined kinetic and non-kinetic strategy featuring sustained anticipation, intelligence, mapping, control, and deterrence. The group expressed hope that President Bola Tinubu's New Year 2026 assurance to protect lives and property would be realised.
The organisation strongly recommended unveiling the sponsors of banditry, empowering security personnel, and, crucially, the commencement of state police as vital steps to fulfil the President's pledge.
