Afenifere Warns of Escalating Terror in Oyo, Others

The persistent and escalating wave of terror and kidnapping across Yorubaland and Nigeria demands urgent attention and decisive action. Afenifere, a respected voice for the Yoruba people, has once again sounded the alarm, expressing deep dismay at the brazenness with which criminals are sacking communities, maiming citizens, and disrupting lives.

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Before now, reports of incidents of this nature used to be from other climes. But these days, the horrendous incidents are also occurring in Yorubaland of Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara and parts of Kogi.

Recent incidents, including the kidnapping of traders and electricity workers in Ibadan, attacks on families in Ondo and Ekiti, and the tragic killing of farmers and military personnel in Kwara, paint a grim picture of insecurity. The organization's statement underscores a disturbing trend: these acts of barbarism, once confined to other regions, are now increasingly prevalent in the heart of Yorubaland.

Afenifere's call for a modification of the National Youth Service Corps program, advocating for corps members to serve within their home states, is a practical response to a critical safety concern. The abduction of youth corpers on their way to orientation camps, as highlighted by recent cases, is unacceptable and demands a re-evaluation of deployment policies. This is not merely a matter of convenience but of ensuring the safety and well-being of young Nigerians contributing to national service.

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We are deeply concerned about this, just as we are uncomfortable with the sacking of communities, kidnapping, killing, livestock rustling, arson and maiming of people in some other parts of the country, particularly in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Nassarawa, Katsina, Borno, Bauchi, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory; to mention a few.

This situation transcends political boundaries and requires a unified approach. The Nigerian government must heed these warnings and implement robust security measures to protect its citizens. The fabric of our communities is being torn apart by this unchecked criminality, and the sense of safety and stability is eroding daily. Afenifere's continued advocacy serves as a crucial reminder of the need for enhanced security and responsive governance.

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Youth corpers deserve special treatment because of their peculiar nature. For this reason, if the scheme could not be suspended, a modification should be brought to it in such a way that participants would be mobilised to serve in their respective states or states of residence rather than having to be posted to states far away.