Banditry: Afenifere Asks Governors To Beef Up Security In Southwest States

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation Afenifere on Thursday asked governors from the southwest zone to hold a meeting as soon as possible to map out strategies to expel the bandits from the region.

The call follows the alarm raised by the Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, regarding the influx of bandits into the region,

Makinde disclosed at the 2025 annual interfaith service for workers held at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, on Monday, January 6, that bandits being dislodged from the Northwestern Part of Nigeria are infiltrating his state.

In his words: “During a security briefing this morning, I learned that some harmful elements from the North-West are relocating here due to military heat in their zones.

“During my birthday retreat in Fashola, bandits had camped less than two kilometres from where I was staying. This underscores the seriousness of the situation.”

In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, however, called on governments in the South West to take the security of their area more seriously given the latest revelation concerning the new influx of bandits into the region.

Ajayi stated, “A disclosure of this nature coming from the Chief Security Officer of a state is not something to be treated with levity.”

He said, “As a matter of urgency, the governments must hold a meeting to map out strategies to expel the bandits from the region and to ensure that such elements do not infiltrate Yorubaland at any time again.”

“Certain groups must be carried along for these objectives to be achieved. These security agencies will implement whatever security decisions are reached, and they are traditional rulers and heads of local vigilantes known as ‘Ode’.”

Ajayi added that whatever strategies were devised should include functional, up-to-date equipment for those on the fields, attractive incentives, and the deployment of modern technologies to assist in identifying the bandits and their hideouts.

While urging security agencies and citizens not to take the issue of security lightly, Ajayi urged the traditional rulers and community leaders in different parts of Yorubaland not to keep quiet whenever they notice any indication suggestive of security threat.