Afenifere slams threats against Igboho, demands action on insecurity

The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has defended Yoruba self-determination activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, over his recent actions against kidnappers and other criminals operating in parts of the South-West.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere said the safety and security of citizens should be the top priority. The group stressed that Igboho’s comments and actions were aimed at criminals and not at any ethnic group.

Afenifere also praised President Bola Tinubu for sending the State Police Bill to the National Assembly and called on lawmakers and governors to ensure its speedy passage and implementation.

The statement followed recent kidnapping incidents along the Igboho-Igbeti-Kisi area of Oyo State. Last weekend, Sunday Igboho visited his hometown and demanded the release of a pregnant woman and two other kidnapped victims. He warned kidnappers to free them or face consequences.

Igboho also warned Fulani individuals involved in kidnapping and other criminal activities to stop immediately. At the same time, he assured law-abiding residents, including non-indigenes living peacefully in the area, that they had nothing to fear.

His comments drew criticism from several northern groups, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Coalition of Northern Groups, and Concerned Fulani People of Nigeria. The groups condemned his ultimatum and called on President Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to caution him.

However, Afenifere rejected those calls, insisting that there was nothing wrong with Igboho’s actions. The group argued that every community has the right to demand protection from criminal activities.

According to Afenifere, Igboho neither acted violently nor broke any law. The organisation described attempts to punish him as unfair and politically motivated.

Afenifere noted that Yorubaland has traditionally been one of the most peaceful and welcoming regions in Nigeria, hosting people from different ethnic backgrounds for many years.

The group, however, said tensions increased when some criminal elements posing as herders allegedly began destroying farmlands and engaging in kidnapping and attacks on communities.

Afenifere also suggested that illegal mining activities may be contributing to insecurity in some areas. It claimed that certain individuals involved in illegal mining could be funding criminal activities after local communities have been displaced by violence.

The organisation said many people associate these crimes with northern Nigeria because banditry and terrorism have been more common in some northern states and because many suspects arrested for such crimes have reportedly come from that region.

Afenifere further claimed that some military officers had previously stated that certain criminal groups operating in the South-West were remnants of terrorists displaced from the Sambisa Forest by military operations.

The group maintained that Igboho’s frustration is directed at kidnappers, bandits and terrorists, not at Fulani people as an ethnic group.

Rather than attacking those fighting insecurity, Afenifere urged northern leaders to focus on addressing the root causes of crime, including poverty, unemployment, lack of education and poor welfare for young people.

On the issue of policing, Afenifere welcomed the move to establish state police and urged all state assemblies to quickly approve the necessary legislation.

The group also advised governors to begin preparing for state police by recruiting qualified personnel, providing proper training and equipment, using modern technology, offering good salaries and ensuring life insurance coverage for officers.

According to Afenifere, professionally managed state police forces would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen security at the local level and help combat kidnapping, banditry and terrorism more effectively across Nigeria.

The organisation concluded by stressing that protecting lives and property should remain a national priority and should not be affected by ethnic, political or regional interests.