The prominent pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has sounded a serious alarm over a disturbing increase in terror-related incidents across Yorubaland and other regions of Nigeria.
Recent Wave of Violent Incidents
In a statement released on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the group detailed a series of recent security breaches. These include the killing of Forest Guards at the Old Oyo National Park in Oloka, Oriire Local Government, and the murder of four farmers in Igboho, Oorelope LGA, both in Oyo State.
Further incidents highlighted were the abduction of a nursing mother and her child in Supare/Ajegunle, Akoko South LGA of Ondo State, the apprehension of bandits in Ondo who allegedly fled from Sokoto, and the burning down of a Police Station in Ipele, also in Ondo.
Call for Governors to Activate Security Plan
Afenifere directly challenged governors of the Southwest states to urgently implement the resolutions from their security meeting held in Ibadan on November 24 of last year. The key resolution was the establishment of a South West Security Fund (SWSF) to create a joint intelligence and communication platform for threat alerts and coordinated rapid response.
The spokesman urged the governors to "quickly actualise this arrangement" and acquire the necessary tools to secure the region, suggesting that Kwara, Kogi, Edo, and Delta states could be included due to security linkages.
Proposed Solutions and Constitutional Hurdles
Ajayi cited inefficient intelligence gathering and internal sabotage as major reasons the battle against insecurity remains unwon. Afenifere proposed a multi-pronged strategy including:
- Concrete re-orientation on the value of life and deradicalisation programs.
- Restructuring the national security architecture.
- Better training, motivation, and equipment for security personnel.
- The immediate establishment of state police.
On state police, Ajayi suggested that pending constitutional amendments, a Presidential Order could be used to populate local police structures with indigenes of their areas, a move he said should be easy given recent agreements between governors and the President.
The statement also commended the military's efforts, referencing the foiling of an attack in Plateau State and the discovery of explosives in Niger State and ammunition in Maiduguri, Borno State.
