By Ayodele Oni
Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has urged South West states to join their neighbouring Kogi and Kwara in tackling banditry.
Afenifere also called on the military to look inward for collaborators of terrorists within the institution to win the war against terrorism in the country.
These were contained in a communique issued at the end of the group’s meeting in Akure, Ondo state.
Afenifere acknowledged that internal collaborators of the terrorist group are the major challenge being faced by the military in the fight against terrorism in the nation.
The communique issued and signed by Jare Ajayi, National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, reads in parts: “The meeting took note of the steps by the federal government under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu on the security situation, including the meeting he held with security chiefs just on Monday.
“In the same vein, the meeting took note of the efforts of the military and other security agencies on security issues in the land.
“Afenifere commended the gallantry of our soldiers and commiserated with the federal government, the military, and families of gallant soldiers who lost their lives or got wounded in the process of defending the nation.
“The body then recommended that: The military and other security agencies be further strengthened with more equipment, morale boosting, enhancement of kinetic and non-kinetic security measures, etc.
“Government and security agencies, including the military, should look inward as insecurity continues to fester because there are internal collaborators.
“Such a searchlight should be beamed on local communities, as there are collaborators among them as well.
“By this, we mean unscrupulous people who are collaborating with kidnappers, bandits, and terrorists.
“Confessions by some of the suspects that have been made public attested to this line of thinking.
“Afenifere seized the opportunity to also commiserate with the people who have been victims of terrorism in Yorubaland and in other parts of Nigeria.
“The organization is highly disturbed by this and called on all concerned not to waste any more time in doing all that is humanly possible to put an end to what now appears to be a genocidal agenda.”
Also, the group urges all governors of the South-West region to collaborate with their neighbouring states, particularly Kwara and Kogi states, in the fight against terrorism and banditry.
It advised South-West governors to beef up security in the region to repel terrorists in the region.
The communique further reads in parts: “The meeting, for the umpteenth time, expressed concern over the security situation in the country.
“Serious concern was expressed about the increasing terror acts in Yorubaland. It called on governors of the six states in the South West to take more decisive actions on insecurity that seems to be ravaging the land now.
“Part of the actions can be strengthening Amotekun, paying more attention to surveillance, and expediting actions on the setting up of state police.
“These can be done in collaboration with governments of neighbouring states, especially Kwara, Kogi, Edo, and Delta, which also have sizeable Yoruba populations.
“The body reiterates its call on South West governors to put into practical action the resolutions they made on several security meetings they have held in recent times.
“There is a need for them to carry the governors of Kwara and Kogi states along for the sake of Yorubas and other residents in these states, and also because of the stretches of forests linking the said states, which bandits often use to carry out their dastardly acts.
Moreover, Afenifere charged politicians to approach the 2027 general elections playing the game according to the rules.
“Afenifere then called on politicians and political players to go about their electioneering processes peacefully.
“Electioneering should be devoid of violence, thuggery, and character assassination,” the communique reads.
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