The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has warned that rising incidents of kidnapping and banditry in the South-West should not be tolerated, stressing the need for stronger security structures to address the growing threats.
The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, made the remarks during an interview on Frontline, a public affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, today.
Ajayi expressed concern over increasing security challenges across the region and urged stakeholders not to allow fears about the potential misuse of state police by governors to derail discussions on strengthening the country’s security architecture.
According to him, while concerns about possible abuse of state police structures are understandable, they should not prevent the adoption of measures required to combat violent crimes.
In a statement issued earlier, Afenifere warned that repeated attacks in Kwara State, Kogi State and Niger State, as well as recent kidnappings in Ondo State, Ekiti State and Oyo State, indicate a troubling security trend.
Ajayi said the organisation’s concerns were prompted by a series of disturbing incidents across the South-West, urging residents to focus on the broader objective of ensuring a safer region.
He also cited the recent abduction of a medical doctor and his brother in Ondo State, noting that the incident underscores the growing boldness of criminal groups operating in the area.
“We are extremely disturbed and concerned. Quite a few incidents prompted the statement we issued. For instance, we cited the case of a medical doctor and his brother who were kidnapped in Ondo State. The younger brother was killed, and the doctor was brutalised.
“There were also repeated attacks in communities in Akure and other parts of the region. In one case, a man was shot while trying to resist kidnappers who wanted to abduct his wife, yet the wife was still taken away. Along the Oyo axis as well, travellers were attacked and taken into the bush. All these happened within a short period,” Ajayi said.
Ajayi also pointed to recent security developments in Kwara State as further evidence that banditry and kidnapping are spreading beyond their traditional strongholds, warning that the situation requires urgent and coordinated action by security agencies.
According to him, the rising attacks in communities within the state demonstrate how criminal groups are gradually expanding the frontiers of their operations.
“When you look at what is happening now in places like Kwara State, it confirms that the problem has gone beyond isolated incidents. Communities had earlier raised alarm about the presence of bandits in their forests, but those warnings were not taken seriously until the attacks started manifesting,” Ajayi said.
“This shows clearly that when intelligence from local communities is ignored, the consequences eventually become visible. The situation in Kwara today is a clear indication that banditry and kidnapping are spreading and must be tackled before they become deeply entrenched,” he said.
Ajayi attributed part of the rising insecurity in the South-West to the displacement of bandits from northern regions where security forces have intensified military operations.
He said many of the dislodged criminal groups are relocating in search of new operational stations.
“One of the factors responsible is the continuous pounding of bandits in the northern part of the country, particularly in the North-West and the North-East. Because they are being pressured there, they are looking for other places where they can continue their operations.
“That is why we are seeing an upsurge in areas that were previously considered relatively safe in the South-West,” he added.
