Kidnappings, Killings: Afenifere Council Asks Tinubu To Declare ‘State Of Emergency In South-West
Akure (Core Reporters) The Afenifere National Youth Council (AYC) is calling on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on kidnapping in the Southwest, particularly in Ondo State. This urgent appeal comes after a surge in abductions and brutal killings, which have become rampant across the country.
AYC President, Prince Eniola Ojajuni, who was kidnapped last month in Akunnu, Ondo State, and held hostage for 12 days, emphasized the critical point the situation has reached. He described how criminal elements operate with impunity, spreading fear and chaos among the populace.
The group’s letter to the President outlined several urgent requests, including:
Declaring a state of emergency on insecurity in the Southwest, especially in Ondo State
Deploying a special military operation to reclaim forests from kidnappers and criminal elements.
Strengthening border security to prevent the influx of criminal herders and terrorists.
Equipping and empowering local security agencies including Amotekun Implementing long-term security reforms* for lasting peace and stability.
Ojajuni also appealed to the President to investigate the flow of ransom payments, increase security surveillance, engage youth associations in the fight against insecurity, and mandate Southwest Governors to collaborate and strengthen security networks.
“From my experience, these kidnappers work with youths who have strong ICT knowledge to track and monitor mobile devices. Some of these individuals are locals who speak Ondo dialects and Yoruba fluently, acting as spies for these criminal elements.
“I have personally written to the Governor of Lagos State, urging him to convene an urgent Southwest Governors’ Forum meeting on security and youth engagement. However, only a strong federal directive can ensure swift and collective action.
“Your Excellency, this is a special appeal to your good office. As the father of the nation, now is the time to take decisive action. The level of insecurity in the Southwest has gone beyond a crisis; it is a full-blown war against innocent Nigerians. Our roads are unsafe, our forests are hijacked, and our people live in fear.”Nigerian history books.
