The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed worry over the resurgence of armed robbery in the South-West.
It called on the Federal Government and security agencies to rise to combat the rising cases of insecurity, particularly armed robbery and kidnapping.
In a statement on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere expressed worry about “the armed robbery attacks at two commercial banks in Ikere, Ekiti State last Wednesday resulting in the death of three Amotekun security personnel in addition to serious harm inflicted on some other innocent people.”
It noted that the Ekiti incident came barely weeks after “Mr. Taiwo Oyekanmi, a Director of Finance, Ogun State, was similarly murdered on November 29, 2023, in Abeokuta by armed robbers who went away with millions of naira meant for government workers.”
“Reports have it that seven people were kidnapped while one person was killed last Monday at Fidiwo on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. This came in the wake of the kidnap of Miracle Adereti Kolawole, a 13-year-old student by an unknown gang while returning home from school on Friday, December 1, 2023, in the Ikotun area of Lagos as confirmed by Afonka Police Station in Egbeda, Alimosho, Lagos, which immediately assigned Inspector Ogidiolu Olajimi to lead the investigation and rescue efforts.
“Towards the end of October, sundry abductions took place in Ikotun, Okota, Ejigbo, Alimosho, Egbeda, Agege, Amuwo Odofin areas of Lagos according to published reports.
“The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, according to reports, said that the police were aware of the situation and were taking decisive actions to round up the criminals. Eight workers of MRS Oil were abducted in July this year from a boat on Tin Can Waterways of Lagos State.
“News media reports indicated that ransoms in millions of naira are being demanded before kidnapped victims could be released. Some victims were killed even when ransoms were paid.”
Afenifere stated that the Ikere-Ekiti bank robbery, like other banditry, was condemnable adding that it probably would not have happened if necessary security steps had been taken.
“It is a matter of serious concern that a few weeks into the Yuletide period, commuters on the highway have to travel with trepidation for fear of being attacked,” it said.
It called on President Bola Tinubu to address the political, economic and ideological factors responsible for insecurity in the country.
“The first thing to do is to urgently allow states and local government areas to establish police services and be in total control of the services with enhanced welfare for the personnel as well as deployment of modern technology for security purposes. Second is to ensure a quicker dispensation of justice so that those arrested for banditry can be tried with dispatch.
“The third thing to do is to take urgent steps at easing the socio-economic hardships in the country so that the people can be more empowered and for them to have more faith in the country and its government.
“The fourth thing to do is on the side of the government and the people. This involves de-radicalising the bandits in a manner that they would realise that what they are doing is self-destructive. It also requires the enlightenment of the people to stop covering up known criminals in their midst.
“But for this to be effectively done, the people need to be sure that their own lives would not be endangered by exposing perceived criminals. As is known presently, those who tip security agents off of suspected criminals are exposed to danger as the criminals sometimes go after them on being told of who exposed them. In other words, our security agencies need to put their own houses in order for the security steps they are taking to be effective.”