Afenifere seeks actions to halt terrorists’ attacks in Southwest, other states
Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has again expressed displeasure about the rising cases of kidnapping and terror attacks in Yorubaland and other parts of the country. The organisation’s feeling was contained
Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has again expressed displeasure about the rising cases of kidnapping and terror attacks in Yorubaland and other parts of the country.
The organisation’s feeling was contained in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi.
He said the fact that terror attacks, including kidnappings were occurring everyday in parts of the country was worrying Afenifere.
“Before now, reports of incidence of this nature used to be from other climes. But these days, the horrendous incidents are also occurring in Yorubaland- Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara and parts of Kogi.
“We are deeply concerned about this, just as we are uncomfortable with the sacking of communities, kidnapping, killing, livestock rustling, arson and maiming of people in other parts of the country, particularly in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Nassarawa, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, Kaduna and Federal Capital Territory; to mention a few.”
Ajayi said Afenifere had, for years, been drawing attention to the then incipient banditry before it escalated into pure terrorism, sacking of communities and direct attacks on military bases and police stations.
He added that the body was disturbed by the news of the kidnapping of a trader at Jinarere in Ibadan, abduction of two workers of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on Ibadan-Ijebu-ode Road, attacks on families in Ondo and Ekiti, killing of farmers in Tede, Ago-Are, killing of military police men in Tenibo/Kenanji in Kwara State, desertion of palaces by some traditional rulers in Kwara State as a result of bandits’ incessant attacks, raids of an orphanage, churches, mosques, markets and households in states.
In view of abductions of youth corps members and graduates on their way to NYSC orientation camps, Ajayi called on the Federal Government through the National Youth Service Corps to let youth corps members undergo the one year programme in their states rather than to be posted outside of their immediate enclaves.
Among the victims cited were Sodiq Ogunlana, a LASU graduate, who was shot and abducted on his way to orientation camp in Ede, Osun State, Lateefah, a graduate of Kwara State Polytechnic, who was kidnapped on her way to NYSC camp in Taraba State, as well as Gift David Samiya, who was abducted on Akwanga-Jos Road while going to the camp.
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On the mechanism to tackle banditry and terrorism, the Afenifere spokesman maintained that non-kinetic methods should be hyped more than is presently being done.
To successfully tackle the menace of banditry, Afenifere suggested that “governors in the Southwest should recruit more personnel into Amotekun, motivate them and equip them properly. Greater surveillance should be effected on bushes in the Southwest.
“Available intelligence should be put into more productive use. State police should be made to take off promptly. Searchlight should be beamed on illegal miners and those behind the mining sites.
“Government and security agencies should apprehend and try those who had been mentioned as masterminds of banditry in the country without regard to their status or position in the society.
“Convoys of armed cyclists should be challenged. A stop should be put to granting amnesty to the so-called repentant bandits. Youth corps members should be allowed to serve in their states of origin or where they live.”
