Afenifere Raises Alarm Over Attacks, Kidnapping of South-West Farmers

Afenifere has raised the alarm over increasing attacks and abductions targeting farmers and other residents across the South-West.

Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, on Friday, said several incidents across Yorubaland were either underreported or unreported.

The group said its recent visits to Oke-Ogun and parts of Oyo and Ondo states showed that some farmers had abandoned their farms because of insecurity, poor prices and continued open grazing on farmlands.

It cited the killing of a female farmer in Ondo, the abduction of a 33-year-old poultry farmer in Ikenne, Ogun State, the killing of four farmers in Oke-Ogun and the abduction of Debo Farounbi in Ora, Osun State.

Afenifere warned that continued insecurity could reduce agricultural production, discourage investment and worsen food insecurity in the region.

The organisation commended President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan, urging security agencies to intensify efforts to protect farmers and other citizens.

Afenifere also called for stronger Amotekun operations, enforcement of anti-open grazing laws, improved border security and better coordination among security agencies, local hunters and community groups.

It urged authorities to act quickly to secure farms and communities, warning that failure to tackle insecurity could worsen food shortages and unemployment.