‘Yorubaland under threat’ – Afenifere raises alarm over banditry, kidnappings
Afenifere Raises Alarm Over Rising Violence in Nigeria
The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization Afenifere has voiced serious concerns regarding an increase in violent attacks across several states in Nigeria, including Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Ondo, Ekiti, and Oyo.
In a statement issued by spokesperson Jare Ajayi, Afenifere noted the recent invasion of Woro and Nuku communities in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, where nearly 200 individuals were reportedly killed and many others abducted by heavily armed bandits.
The group pointed out that the violence is not confined to Kwara but has also affected neighboring states such as Edo, Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, and Katsina.
Highlighting the expanding threat to urban areas, Afenifere cited the daylight abduction of a schoolgirl in the Challenge area of Ibadan. Ajayi remarked that violent acts are increasingly occurring in locations that previously felt secure.
He urged governors in the South-West and adjacent states to adopt more robust security measures to ensure the safety of residents. “We want our people to sleep with their two eyes closed,” he stated.
Ajayi reminded that during a meeting of South-West governors in Ibadan on November 24, 2025, there was an agreement to establish a South-West Security Fund and monitoring centers, with Ogun State already implementing CCTV facilities.
“The problem is not a lack of information, but the willingness to act on that information for the benefit of the people,” Ajayi asserted, advocating for the prompt establishment of state police and enhanced local security initiatives.
Afenifere warned that continued violence in states bordering the South-West could lead to a significant incursion into Yorubaland if swift action is not taken.
