Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has expressed worry over the growing insecurity in Yorubaland and other parts of Nigeria.
The group stated its position in a communiqué issued after its caucus meeting at the Akure residence of its leader, Reuben Fasoranti, on Tuesday.
Afenifere decried the worsening spate of banditry in Kwara, Kogi, Ogun, Ondo and Oyo, and described the killings in Benue, Plateau, Niger and Katsina as “seeming genocide.”
The group also reviewed the country’s economic situation and urged the federal government to intensify reforms to ensure recovery and stability.
It noted that while security agencies are making efforts, “a lot still needs to be done to stem the undesirable insecurity situation going on in different parts of the country.”
The group called for urgent steps to operationalise state police, describing it as a critical tool in tackling insecurity.
It referenced Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser, who recently suggested that local communities should be empowered to defend themselves.
The group added that both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches must be used to fight banditry and terrorism.
“Afenifere seeks the procurement of modern technology equipment to be appropriately deployed. Some of these are drones, closed-circuit cameras, etc. Security personnel should also be motivated and encouraged,” the communiqué said.
The group also urged community leaders, politicians and residents to identify saboteurs and collaborators working with criminals.
It asked that obstacles to the enforcement of anti-open grazing laws be removed, while encouraging governments to support ranching through private sector investment.
Afenifere commended the federal government for ongoing road projects but called for faster work on key highways, including Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa-Akure, Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin, Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode and Ibadan-Abeokuta roads.
The group reiterated its call for restructuring, describing it as the “panacea” to Nigeria’s problems.
“As Afenifere has repeatedly advocated, we strongly believe that restructuring of the country is a panacea for tackling most of the country’s problems. In this wise, we call for an urgent bill to be sent to the national assembly for this purpose,” the communiqué read.