The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called on the federal government and security agencies to put a halt to the unbridled influx of people with questionable intention as part of measures to tackle the security problems facing the country.
The organisation made the call on Tuesday in a communique issued at the end of its meeting held at Sanya-Ogbo home of its acting Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo.
Afenifere, in the eight-point communique signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jare Ajayi, expressed concern over what it described as unprecedented security challenges facing the country.
It stated that terrorism and related vices including kidnapping were now so worrisome that people in places like Yewa, Ogun State, Oke Ogun in Oyo State, were forced to be relocating to Benin Republic and other West African countries.
It maintained that the federal government owed it as a duty to take urgent actions to guarantee the security of the people and put a stop to what was causing them agonies.
While expressing dismay over illegal mining activities going on in various parts of Yorubaland most especially by non-indigenes, Afenifere insisted that the manner of the activity was not only jeopardising the economic and agricultural activities of the people in these areas, the security of the people wass also being seriously threatened.
The communique reads in part: “Afenifere also took particular note of the incessant security breaches in our border towns in Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo. We hereby strongly call for the protection of the people in these areas.
“It is a known fact that Afenifere strongly stands by the Southern governors in their resolution on anti-grazing laws. We commend the steps taken by governors of the South West on the establishment of security networks like Amotekun. We urge them to continue to forge ahead.
“In view of the fact that Nigerian nation is fast moving into the precipice, there is the need by the federal government to urgently put a halt to various acts of terrorism, kidnapping, herders/farmers clashes and the like. This, government can do, by immediately allowing states to have their own police. In fact, security aparatus should be democratised down to the local level.
“Afenifere again reiterated its position that restructuring remains the panacea to solve the multi various problems bedevilling the country now. And we insist that this restructuring should be done before the next elections in the country.
“In the meantime, every community must be at alert to realise that they must defend themselves from bandits who seem to have declared war on Nigeria.”
Those present at the meeting include the Deputy Leader of the organisation, Oba Oladipo Olaitan; the Secretary General, Chief Sola Ebiseni; Chief Supo Sonibare; Apagun Kole Omololu; Leke Mabinuori; Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; Dr. Gbola Adetunji; Dr. Alonge, Babatunde Tijani; Dr. Amos Akingba; Jare Ajayi; Prof Akin Onigbinde and Dauda Adam.
