The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has sought accelerated action for urgent take-off of state police to combat rising insecurity in the country.
The organisation disclosed this in a communique issued yesterday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, after the end of its caucus meeting held in the Akure home of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti.
Afenifere noted the deplorable condition that banditry has assumed particularly in parts of Kwara, Kogi, Ogun, Ondo and Oyo states, and the seeming genocide in Benue, Plateau, Niger and Katsina states, reports Daily Independent.
The communique reads, “We note the efforts of the Federal Government to tackle the economic challenges the country is facing. The impact of some of the steps taken are already being felt in some aspects of the economy.”
It urged the government to work harder on its economic reform policies so as to ensure that the country’s economy bounces back and become stronger.
“We also note the various efforts of the government to tackle the increasing security situation in the country. We feel that much as the security agencies are trying their best, a lot still needs to be done to stem the undesirable insecurity situation going on in different parts of the country.”
Afenifere called for accelerated actions for the urgent take-off of the much announced state police.
“Besides, as the National Security Adviser, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, suggested, local communities should be encouraged and funded to defend themselves.
“We feel that while both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies are employed to combat banditry and terrorism, community leaders, politicians and locals should identify and check internal saboteurs and those who are collaborating with criminals.
“There’s the need for strong policies on justice, fairness and a determination to ensure that no group of people constitute danger or threat to other people, especially in their ancestral homes.
“Modern technology equipment should be procured and appropriately deployed. Some of these are drones, close circuit cameras, etcetera. Security personnel should also be motivated and encouraged.
“All the impediments against the enforcement of anti-open grazing laws passed by some state governments be removed. This is to put a check on the destructions being visited on farmlands and stem farmers/herders clashes.
“The federal and state governments to encourage business entrepreneurs and individuals in the livestock sector to set up ranches.
“We laud the federal government for the road projects being carried out in various parts of the country. We call for reconstruction works to be accelerated on Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa-Akure Road, Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin Road, Ibadan-Ijebu-ode Road, Ibadan-Abeokuta Road, among others.
“We call on the authorities to prevail on contractors who have been mobilised to quickly move to the sites while those who are already on sites should expedite actions.
“As we have repeatedly advocated, we strongly believe that restructuring of the country is a panacea for tackling most of the country’s problems. We call for an urgent bill to be sent to the National Assembly for this purpose.”
