The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed concern over the surge in kidnapping incidents in Ondo, Kwara, Ogun, Osun, Niger and Plateau States, just as it condemns the reported attack on women who were at the gate of the Kwara State Government House on a Save Our Soul (SOS) mission.
A press statement yesterday by the organisation’s national publicity secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi stated that citizens have an inalienable right to call the attention of governments to their plight so long as such is done in a peaceful manner.
He added that the Saturday attack on Kasuwan Daji in Niger State, like many other similar attacks “saddens our heart coming at a time when terrorism is expected to be tamed”.
According to him, reports have it that some women and children from Oke-Ode, Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State went to the Kwara State Government House in Ilorin, to plead with the state government to come to their rescue, reports Daily Independent.
“Their pleas were basically two-pronged: first, to ask the government to come to their aid as they couldn’t raise millions of Naira demanded by kidnappers for their kidnapped husbands and children to be released. To take steps that would put an end to the frequent attacks by terrorists. They were reportedly flogged by perceived thugs near the entrance to the Government House.”
Afenifere condemned the attack on the protesters, especially when they were not seen with dangerous weapons.
“It’s noteworthy that Governor Abdulrasaq hasn’t only distanced himself from the unfortunate incident but went further to call on the police to ‘find the attackers and bring them to account’.
Afenifere wondered why the perpetrators were not arrested and the women not protected even when the incident happened in the broad day light.
The Pan Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation frowned at attacks that happened in Kabba area of Kogi State. It also recalled that in December, 2025, the farming community of Ayetoro-Kiri was besieged by bandits who harmed some people and abducted others, while in the evening of December 26, terrorists invaded Adanla, a suburb of Igbaja in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state and abducted nine people.
The organisation also made mention of the New Year’s Eve attack where over 20 suspected bandits bombed the Divisional Police Station, Ipele in Owo local government area of Ondo State, among others.
The statement added, “At the moment, it looks as if security approach is reactive rather than proactive. Critical studying of the pattern of these attacks tend to suggest a determination on the part of the attackers and their sponsors to instill fear in the people and to take control of their areas. Security agencies appear to be making a lot of efforts.
“But they’re overwhelmed by lack of necessary tools, enough manpower, paucity of skill that the present situation demands, internal complicity and betrayal, gaps in community-level intelligence gathering, targeting of mineral-resourced areas, among others.
“To win this war, the approach must be kinetic and non-kinetic including sustained anticipation, intelligence, mapping, control and deterrence.”
However, Afenifere expressed hope that the assurance given by President Bola Tinubu in his 2026 New Year message to the nation would be realised.
“The president had, among others, restated the commitment of his administration to protect “lives, property and territorial integrity of our country.”
“Unveiling sponsors of banditry, empowering security personnel and commencement of state police will go a long way in bringing President’s avowal into fruition” Afenifere added.
