Afenifere says terrorist infiltration in Kwara, Kogi is part of the territorial expansion plot

The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has increased concerns over recent attacks on people in Kwara and Kogi countries, describing them as deliberate efforts by territorial expansion, terrorists, and unstable troops to create the head of parallel and national stability that divides.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Secretary of its national publicity, Jare Ajayi, the group sympathized with the population of the two states of a series of tragedies, including ship accidents and widespread floods. Afeniphere, founded in 1998 and is known for advocacy about democracy, security and good government, consistently expressed concern about terrorism, bandits, and clashes, especially in the central and southwest belts.

The organization illustrates the dismissal of the community in Kwara and Kogi as a reminder that terrorism in the north-middle remains a big threat not only in the southwest but also to Nigeria in general.

“The method deployed by the attackers in Kwara far exceeds the abduction or grazing of ordinary livestock,” the statement said. “Sophisticated weapons used, the courage of their operations, and the scale of destruction show strong sponsors, both at home and abroad. Illegal mining and other shadow networks can also be associated with this attack.”

Afenifere condemned the invasion of leaving lost lives, destroyed properties, and disrupted socio-economic activities, warning that those who helped or finance such groups would ultimately not avoid the chaos they developed.

“Those who support, collaborate, or finance these criminals must understand that when a country is unstable, nothing is immune,” the group warned, drawing parallel with Afghanistan and Libya.

Referring to the protracted instability in Libya after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, and the Taliban Clampdown of women’s rights in Afghanistan since 2021, Afenifere emphasized that the consequences of the national destabilization were durable and destroying.

The group urged the Nigerian government and stakeholders to approach the security crisis with new urgency, while calling for awareness of local and international actors who are believed to trigger violence.