Afenifere Raises Alarm Over Rising Kidnappings In South-West

BY DAMILOLA ORIGBEMISUYI, Akure

Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has raised a fresh alarm over the rising cases of kidnapping and violent attacks in the South-West.

It warned that the region is gradually coming under siege by terrorists and bandits.

The group urged governors in the region as well as security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue communities from the grip of criminal elements terrorising residents.

In a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Jare Ajayi, the organisation said Yoruba people were increasingly alarmed by the frequent reports of kidnappings, killings and attacks in several states in the region.

According to the statement, the concerns stem from the “near daily devaluation of human life” in parts of the South-West where kidnapped victims were reportedly subjected to brutal treatment while some were killed even after ransom demands.

Afenifere cited several incidents in Ondo State where churches, police stations, homes and highways have reportedly come under attack by armed groups in recent times.

It also referenced attacks in Kwara State where bandits were said to have sacked some communities, as well as in the Oke-Ogun axis of Oyo State where farmers have allegedly been killed and travellers attacked along the Igbeti–Kisi road.

Similarly, the organisation pointed to incidents in Ekiti State where kidnappers reportedly killed a victim and demanded N1.5 million alongside illicit drugs and other items before releasing the corpse to the family.

Describing the development as disturbing, the group said the situation shows the level of cruelty displayed by criminal elements operating in the region.

It also expressed worry that homes which were once considered safe havens are now being targeted, citing the case of a couple reportedly attacked in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, where the husband was shot while trying to prevent gunmen from abducting his wife.

‎‎“Up till the recent past, the home environment used to be considered a ‘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,” Afenifere said.

‎Afenifere lamented that similar violent attacks have also been recorded in other parts of the country.

‎The group, however, maintained that the security challenge is not insurmountable if the government takes decisive steps to dismantle the networks supporting the bandits.

‎It called on authorities to block sources of funding for criminal groups, go after their sponsors and middlemen, clamp down on illegal mining allegedly involving foreign interests and strengthen security operations in forests where the criminals are believed to hide.

‎It added “Confessions of some of them(kidnappers) 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.”

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Afenifere also commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu for pushing for the establishment of state police and urged the National Assembly of Nigeria to expedite action on constitutional amendments that would enable states to establish their own police forces.