By Akinwale Kasali
Afenifere, the Pan Yoruba socio cultural group says State Policing is the answer to the myriad of security challenges facing the country.
The group led by elder statesman Ayo Adebanjo has therefore, demanded
the immediately approval of state police to enable states to protect residents
from terrorism, kidnapping and herders/farmers clashes.
Adebanjo said restructuring remains the only way to fix Nigeria, urging the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to restructure the country before the 2023 general elections.
According to a communique issued at the end of a meeting by the group in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, the elder statesman said, “In view of the fact that Nigeria 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, the security apparatus should be democratised down to the local level. Every community must be at alert to realise that they must defend themselves from bandits who seem to have declared war on Nigeria.”
“We insist that this restructuring should be done before the next elections in the country.”
The communique signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi also blasted the influx of foreigners into Nigeria using the tag of ‘commercial motorcycle riders’.
The group claimed these foreigners have worsened the security situation and called on indigenous communities in the country to be on the alert.
“Afenifere notes with serious concern the unprecedented security problems accentuated by the influx of people even from outside Nigeria. Some of them are disguising as Okada riders.
“We call on the government and security agencies to put a halt to the unbridled influx of people with questionable intentions. Terrorism and related vices including kidnapping are now so worrisome that in some cases, our people in places like Yewa, Ogun State, Oke Ogun in Oyo State, etc are forced to be relocating into the Benin Republic and other West African countries. Urgent actions must be taken to guarantee the security of these people and to put a stop to what is causing them agonies.
“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 the governors of the South-West states on the establishment of security networks like Amotekun. We urge them to continue to forge ahead.”
“We note with concern the illegal mining activities going on in various parts of our land, especially by non-indigenes.
In many cases, the manner of this activity is not only jeopardising the economic and agricultural activities of our people in these areas, the security of the people is also being seriously threatened”, Afenifere said.
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