The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has raised serious concern over rising insecurity in states bordering the South West, warning that the trend is deepening fears of bandits spreading their operations into Yorubaland.
In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, the organisation said the persistent terrorist attacks in Kwara, Kogi and Niger states, alongside recent cases of kidnapping in Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo states, are troubling and unacceptable.Afenifere recalled that in the penultimate week, heavily armed bandits stormed Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama LGA of Kwara State, killing close to 200 people and abducting several others.
During the same period, similar attacks were recorded in neighbouring Kogi and Edo states, as well as Niger, Benue, Plateau, Kaduna and Katsina states. On Thursday, bandits also struck in Edo and Oyo states, where innocent citizens were abducted, including a junior secondary school girl at the Challenge area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
According to Afenifere, “this is a very disturbing development as cases of abduction seem to be on the increase in Yorubaland”.
”The organisation noted that recent incidents in Ondo, Ibadan, Kaduna and other places occurred within urban centres, a sign that violent attacks are no longer limited to remote areas with little or no government presence.
It recalled the abduction of the schoolgirl in Ibadan, which happened in broad daylight while her mother was dropping her off at school at Challenge, a busy part of the city along the Ring Road axis leading to Lagos. This, Afenifere stressed, shows that the kidnapping took place right inside the metropolis.
The group observed that while attacks on schools, worship centres such as churches and mosques, and markets had been common in the northern parts of the country, Kwara State has now joined the list. It added that reports also indicated that bandits had issued threat notices to some communities in the state, suggesting that the pattern of sacking villages, previously associated with the North East and Middle Belt, is gradually spreading.In view of these developments, Afenifere called on the governors of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Lagos states, as well as those of Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta states, to urgently put in place robust security measures that would allow residents to “sleep with their two eyes closed.”
Ajayi reminded the public that the six South West governors, at their meeting in Ibadan on November 24, 2025, resolved to strengthen regional security. Part of the plan included the establishment of a South West Security Fund and possible monitoring centres to track potential terrorists.
He noted that Ogun State had recently inaugurated closed-circuit television (CCTV) centres in furtherance of this goal.
“It is however not debatable that banditry and terrorism are continuing not because there is no information on or about bandits and terrorists. Terrorism is becoming pervasive because even the information available is not being processed and used in the interest of the people. Rather, it, in many cases, even serve the interest of those who are clearly ‘the enemies of the people!’”
Ajayi cited the attack on Woro village, where the village head reportedly disclosed that a warning letter had been written and forwarded to higher authorities before the attack, yet no preventive action was taken.
He also stated that the identities of bandits and some of their sponsors are widely known, but those responsible for acting on such information have failed, and in some cases allegedly colluded with criminals.
He further referenced reports of some northern states, particularly Katsina, entering into so-called peace pacts with bandits, noting that attacks still continued despite such agreements.
According to him, the idea of negotiating with criminals whose identities are known amounts to pampering lawbreakers instead of enforcing the law.
Ajayi also pointed to past allegations of corruption involving funds meant for security, including cases where money for arms procurement was allegedly diverted, undermining efforts to protect citizens.In his concluding remarks, Ajayi stressed that “the problem therefore is not lack of information, but the will to use the information in the interest of the people. State Police should take off immediately while communities should also be enabled to have local security arrangements.”
He urged governors in the South West to move beyond rhetoric and take firm, practical steps to ensure the region becomes truly safe and secure.
