Daud Olatunji
The Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed grave concern over the alarming rise in kidnapping cases across several states, including Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Edo, Kogi, Adamawa, and Taraba states.
The group urged local communities to take proactive security measures amid reports of collaborations between locals and criminals.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere lamented the worsening insecurity and backed calls for urgent security strategies to combat the surge in abductions nationwide.
The organisation highlighted recent cases of kidnapping, stressing the growing sophistication of criminals and the need for urgent interventions.
Afenifere pointed to a recent abduction case in Ondo State, where two farmers were kidnapped on Friday, March 7, while working on their farm at Oba-Ile, along Airport Road, Akure North Local Government Area.
The Ondo State Commandant of the Amotekun Corps, Otunba Adetunji Adeleye, confirmed the incident, describing it as part of a disturbing pattern of criminality across the region.
The organisation cited a National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report revealing that between May 2023 and April 2024, victims of kidnapping in Nigeria paid a staggering N2.23 trillion in ransom, yet many abducted individuals never returned alive, even after payments were made.
Despite assurances from security officials, including the National Co-ordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major-General Adamu Garba Laka, that kidnapping for ransom would reduce significantly in 2024, Afenifere noted that the current security realities suggest otherwise.
“Going by reports coming in from different parts of the country, it is difficult to see how the noble desire of the NCTC boss can be met—unless urgent actions are taken. Such actions warrant a change in tactics and orientation,” the statement read.
The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilfred Afolabi, attributed the rising criminal activities in the South-West to unregulated migration, noting that thousands of people are relocating to the region daily without any form of scrutiny.
“There are a lot of people migrating, relocating to the Southern part of the country, and they are coming in hundreds and thousands. And there is no directive coming from anywhere that this movement should be checked,” Afolabi stated.
He further emphasized the need for modern security equipment, including high-tech surveillance devices, to help security agencies track and prevent criminal activities more effectively.
Afenifere, while supporting the Ondo CP’s call for advanced security equipment, stressed that other measures must be implemented to curb the crisis. The group urged the government to: empower local communities to play more active roles in securing their areas under the supervision of government agencies.
Afenifere also advised that the security bodies must equip and adequately remunerate security personnel to boost their efficiency and motivation.
Ajayi also suggests that government should legislate state and local government police structures into existence, possibly integrating properly trained local vigilante groups.
Ajayi also called on traditional rulers and community leaders to intensify security efforts, warning that some local informants were aiding kidnappers.
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