By Dapo Akinrefon
The USA chapter of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has urged Governors and traditional rulers in the Southwest states to intensify efforts toward addressing the worsening insecurity confronting the region.
Afenifere’s North America President, Dr. Durojaiye Akindutire, in a statement, expressed concern over the rising incidents of kidnapping, banditry, and targeted killings in the South West, saying the situation is unacceptable and demands urgent collective action.
The rising incidents of kidnapping, banditry, and targeted killings have continued to create fear and anxiety among innocent citizens, a situation that is unacceptable and demands urgent collective action.
The Yoruba body tasked the governor’s and monarchs to collaborate with the Federal Government and security agencies to curb the menace.
The statement reads: “As Chief Security Officers of their respective states, we respectfully encourage each Governor to take advantage of the recent recruitment of additional police personnel as an opportunity to deepen partnership with the Federal Government and strengthen collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in confronting this challenge. “Such efforts should include sustained and proactive policing of forests and farmlands, which have increasingly become vulnerable to criminal activities. Enhanced coordinated patrols, intelligence-driven surveillance, and complementary deployments are vital to denying criminal elements operational space and dismantling their networks.
“Educational institutions and places of worship should also be accorded priority protection. Schools—both public and private, ought to be designated as security-sensitive zones, supported by proactive patrols, early-warning systems, and close collaboration with school authorities to safeguard students, teachers, and staff. Similarly, religious institutions should receive adequate protection to preserve the sanctity of worship and promote communal harmony through regular security assessments and coordinated patrols. These measures reflect widely accepted best practices in many developed societies and are essential to restoring public confidence.
“While we fully acknowledge the constitutional right to freedom of movement and residency, the prevailing security realities call for heightened vigilance and shared responsibility at all levels of governance. This appeal is made in full recognition of the constitutional guarantees of freedom of movement, residence, and lawful economic activity, and is intended solely to promote public safety and communal harmony in line with the responsibilities of constituted authorities. In this spirit, we humbly appeal to our highly revered traditional rulers and local government chairmen to exercise thoughtful discretion in the allocation, sale, or transfer of communal lands, mindful of the security considerations that accompany such decisions under current circumstances. We respectfully commend the foresight and leadership demonstrated by the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Adewolu Ladoja, in prohibiting open grazing within Ibadanland, and we encourage other esteemed monarchs across the Southwest to kindly take a cue from this proactive step in the collective pursuit of peace, security, and communal harmony.
“For added emphasis, Governors are encouraged to further deepen collaboration among state security outfits, traditional institutions, local governments, and community vigilante structures, recognizing that community-based intelligence remains vital for early threat identification and effective response. These efforts should be anchored within a broader framework of regional security coordination across the Southwest, supported by enhanced intelligence sharing, joint operations, and harmonized strategies. In this regard, the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, should be continually strengthened, adequately supported, and technologically equipped to enable seamless cross-border patrols and coordinated operations, ensuring that no state becomes a weak link in the region’s collective security architecture. The Afenifere USA Chapter believes that these actions would effectively complement the ongoing efforts of the Nigerian military and its international partners, including counterparts in the United States, in confronting terrorist elements and dismantling their hideouts.
“The safety of lives and property must remain paramount. This moment calls for unity of purpose rather than recrimination, and for collective responsibility rather than political contestation. The time has come for coordinated, proactive, and decisive action to restore peace, strengthen security, and rebuild public confidence across the SouthWest.”
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