The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed concern over rising cases of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in the South-West and neighbouring states, warning of a possible expansion of criminal activities into Yorubaland.
The organisation, through its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said repeated attacks in Kwara, Kogi and Niger states, alongside reported kidnappings in Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo states, indicated a worrying security situation in the region.
Afenifere recalled the recent attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, where nearly 200 people were reportedly killed and several others abducted. It also cited attacks in neighbouring states and the abduction of a junior secondary schoolgirl in the Challenge area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The group described the Ibadan incident as particularly disturbing, noting that the schoolgirl was abducted in broad daylight while her mother was taking her to school. It said the development showed that kidnapping was increasingly affecting urban communities rather than being restricted to rural areas.
Afenifere called on governors in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Lagos, as well as their counterparts in Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta states, to strengthen security arrangements and protect residents.
Ajayi recalled that the six South-West governors had resolved at a meeting in Ibadan on November 24, 2025, to establish a South-West Security Fund and monitoring centres to track potential security threats.
The organisation also criticised what it described as the failure to act on available intelligence, insisting that effective use of security information was necessary to prevent attacks and apprehend those responsible.
Afenifere further called for the immediate establishment of state police and stronger
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