Afenifere, Security Experts Urge Southwest Governors to Counter Bandit Influx

• Afenifere urges Southwest governors to urgently address the influx of bandits, emphasizing the need for coordinated action and intelligence sharing
• Following Governor Makinde’s alarm about bandit activities, Afenifere calls for an immediate meeting to strategize on regional security

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, and security experts have urged Southwest governors to take immediate coordinated action against the rising influx of bandits into the region.

Retired military officers, General B.M. Shafa and Lieutenant Colonel Abdulwahab Ademola Lawal, emphasized the importance of proper coordination and intelligence sharing between security agencies and local hunters to curb the escalating security challenge.

Concerns intensified after Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, raised an alarm on Monday about bandits displaced from Northwest Nigeria infiltrating his state.

Gani Adams, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, also appealed to regional governors to urgently address the looming security threats posed by the bandits.

Afenifere spokesperson Jare Ajayi, in a statement from Ibadan, urged swift action, stating, “Governor Makinde’s warning should not be taken lightly given the nature of these threats.”

He called for an immediate meeting among Southwest governors to strategize on expelling the bandits and preventing future infiltration.

Ajayi stressed that traditional rulers, security agencies, and local vigilantes must be involved in implementing security measures to protect Yorubaland. He also urged community leaders to report any suspicious activities.

Meanwhile, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission highlighted the need for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s security system, advocating for full decentralization of policing.

Dr. Seye Oyeleye, Director-General of DAWN, praised the success of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, in addressing community security needs, asserting that the model demonstrates the effectiveness of localized policing while upholding professional standards.