Afenifere Raises Concerns Over Surging Crimes In South West, Suggests Ways To Curb Crime Rate

Afenifere, a socio-cultural organization for the Yoruba people of Nigeria, has urged the federal government and security agencies to take measures to curb increasing crimes, including armed robberies and kidnappings, in the South West.

Jare Ajayi, national publicity secretary of Afenifere, expressed his concerns following armed robberies at two commercial banks in Ikere, Ekiti State, last week, which resulted in the death of three security personnel and injured innocent citizens.

A few weeks ago, Taiwo Oyekanmi, a finance director from Ogun State, was killed by armed robbers in Abeokuta and took away the cash he was carrying.

"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," Ajayi said, Punch reported.

"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," he added.

The organization also called on the federal government to urgently address the "political, economic and ideological factors" identified by State Security Spokesperson Peter Afunaya, which are responsible for recurring kidnaps and banditry in the country.

Ajayi urged President Bola Tinubu to look into security issues, suggesting that every state and local government should establish police services and should be given total control "with enhanced welfare" and modern technology for security purposes.

He also suggested expeditious trials for arrested bandits and immediate measures to ease the socio-economic hardships in the country for the people to have more faith in the government.

Ajayi recommended that the government should de-radicalize the bandits in a way that makes them understand the self-destructive nature of their actions. The public should also be encouraged to expose criminals. He said people would come forward and help the government with information only when they are sure that their own lives wouldn't be in danger.

"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," he noted. "Our security agencies need to put their own houses in order for the security steps they are taking to be effective."