Afenifere lamented the wave of terror and banditry in the Southwest, and called for urgent action

Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has condemned the wave of terror attacks and increasing incidents of kidnapping by bandits in the South West region of the country.

The group therefore called on the southwest government and security agencies to intensify efforts to eliminate the twin threats in the region.

The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Jare Ajayi, in a press statement on Saturday, highlighted the concerns of the Yoruba people over the almost daily erosion of human life in some states, citing the barbaric manner in which kidnap victims are treated and the merciless beating and humiliation of kidnap victims.

Ajayi referred to various incidents, including attacks on churches, police stations, individual homes and roads in Ondo State; removal of communities in Kwara; killings of farmers and attacks on tourists along the Igbeti-Kisi road in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State; and horrific kidnappings in Ekiti State, where victims were killed and their bodies held for ransom.

“The greatest demonstration of the cruelty of these criminals is their demand of N1.5 million, Indian marijuana, cocaine, a synthetic drug known as ICE, and a carton of canned beer for the release of the bodies in their captivity,” Ajayi said.

“The kidnappers even humorously asked to be given virgins in exchange for the four men they had previously kidnapped.

“Until recently, the home environment was considered a ‘safe haven’. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. A husband and wife were attacked in front of their home in Akure, Ondo State, and the husband was shot while trying to prevent his wife from being kidnapped.”

“Elder Igwe, father of the former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, was kidnapped on his way to church on Sunday, March 1. In Erinmope-Ekiti, a family of five was kidnapped at 7pm when people were at the mosque for evening prayers. Bandits reportedly went house to house in Kubwa, Abuja, this week, robbing and kidnapping residents.”

Ajayi further observed that similar prolonged attacks have been reported in Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Borno, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Katsina, and Kaduna States, and that refugees returning from Cameroon were also victims in Bauchi State.

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Narrating a case in Edo State, Ajayi described how kidnappers abducted a doctor and his brother. Killed his sister but released the doctor after payment of ransom. When the daughter of one of the kidnappers fell ill, the doctor on duty at the hospital recognized the perpetrator and alerted the police, so they were arrested.

“The bottom line here is that the bandit valued his daughter’s life by seeking medical treatment for her, but saw no harm in killing another person,” he said.

Ajayi stressed that terrorism and kidnapping were rampant but stressed that the problem was not insurmountable, stating: “Bandits are not spirits and are invincible.”

The Afenifere leader called for decisive action to cut off the bandits’ funding sources, which include unscrupulous wealthy individuals, local and international organizations, some state actors, communities paying protection money or ‘harvest fees’, ransoms from captives, and outright theft.

He also urged an investigation into foreign actors involved in illegal mining which may have been the cause of the community’s dismissal.

“Confessions of the arrested and tried bandits reveal that they have sponsors. Therefore, it is important to go after their sponsors and intermediaries, block their sources of funding and weapons, raid the bushes where they hide, eradicate corruption and sabotage within the security forces, motivate personnel, and ensure the immediate establishment of a state police force,” Ajayi said.

Afenifere commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his determination in advancing the country’s police force, citing his call on the National Assembly to expedite constitutional amendments so that they are implemented immediately.

The new Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, was also praised for inaugurating a committee to determine modalities for deployment of the state police.

The organization reiterated its call on governors in the Southwest to implement measures to attack bandit hideouts, continue surveillance of vulnerable areas, and cooperate fully with the Federal Government to ensure the speedy establishment of state police in their states.