From Dispatch Room
The Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has raised fresh alarm over worsening insecurity in the South-West, warning that the region is no longer facing a distant threat but is already experiencing active infiltration by kidnappers and armed groups.
Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, stated this on Wednesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.
Ajayi said the recent kidnapping incident in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where victims have remained in captivity for more than two weeks, shows that insecurity has moved from border communities into the heart of the South-West.
According to him, the situation can no longer be described as an emerging threat because communities are already feeling the impact directly.
“It is not just that insecurity is at our doorstep anymore, it is already right inside our communities. We are already feeling it, we are already living with it, and what is happening in places like Oriire shows that the situation has gone beyond warnings to reality,” he said.
Ajayi also referenced earlier incidents in the region, including attacks in border communities and the killing of forest guards in Oriire earlier in the year.
He said the killing of the forest guards should have been treated as a major security warning rather than an isolated event.
According to him, the victims were trying to prevent criminal elements from gaining access to communities before they were attacked.
“When the forest guards were killed in Oriire, we made it clear that it was not an isolated case. Those men were simply trying to prevent criminal elements from gaining access to communities. Once they were removed, it became obvious that the attackers were clearing the way for larger operations,” Ajayi said.
The Afenifere spokesperson said the organisation had repeatedly warned about the spread of insecurity from border areas of Kwara State into neighbouring Oyo communities.
He noted that communities in parts of Kwara, including Kaiama and Baruten, had experienced violent attacks that displaced residents and forced some traditional rulers to abandon their domains.
“We have seen communities deserted, we have seen traditional rulers leave their palaces, and in some cases, we have seen entire settlements become unsafe for normal life. When Obas are no longer able to remain in their domains, it means the system has already broken down in those areas,” he said.
Ajayi acknowledged efforts by South-West governors to introduce security measures, including surveillance systems, control rooms and aerial monitoring tools, but questioned the effectiveness of those measures in preventing repeated attacks.
He said the continued success of kidnappers despite investments in security infrastructure points to weak coordination and poor implementation.
“The question is not just about what has been introduced or announced. The real issue is effectiveness. If these measures were properly harmonised and working efficiently, we would not continue to witness repeated attacks in the same communities,” he stated.
He also criticised what he described as inadequate empowerment of regional security structures such as the Amotekun Corps.
According to him, Amotekun remains underfunded, understaffed and insufficiently equipped to confront the scale of insecurity facing the region.
“Amotekun is a very good initiative, but the reality is that the personnel are few and not properly equipped to handle the level of insecurity we are facing. In many cases, they lack the logistics and motivation required to operate effectively in dangerous environments,” Ajayi said.
He stressed that security responsibility must be shared between federal and state governments, adding that governors receive monthly security allocations that should be used to strengthen local response systems.
Ajayi also warned that intelligence gathering alone is not enough if it is not followed by swift operational response.
“The problem is not that intelligence is not being gathered. The problem is what is done with that intelligence. When information is available but action is delayed, the system becomes reactive instead of preventive, and that is exactly what we are seeing today,” he said.
Speaking on abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State, Ajayi described their continued captivity as a humanitarian emergency requiring urgent intervention.
“These are innocent children who have nothing to do with whatever the attackers want. They are being held in very harsh conditions, and the longer they remain there, the more physical, emotional and psychological damage they suffer. This is why urgent action is needed,” he said.
He maintained that the first few days after any kidnapping incident are critical, noting that delayed response often worsens the crisis and emboldens criminals.
“If decisive action is taken within the first two or three days, many of these situations do not escalate to this level. Delay only strengthens the criminals and weakens the chances of a quick resolution,” Ajayi stated.
On public protests demanding the release of abducted victims, he said citizens have the right to express frustration, but government inaction often creates the conditions that trigger such demonstrations.
Ajayi said both negotiation and force may be necessary depending on the situation, but insisted that government must always maintain control.
“Government must always rise above the situation. It has more information, more resources, and legitimate authority. There are times when you use persuasion and there are times when you use force, but what is important is that criminals must not be allowed to dictate the pace of events,” he said.
— Newspot Nigeria
