Afenifere Raises Alarm Over Resurgence Of Kidnapping In Southwest

Yoruba Social-Cultural Organisation, Afenifere has described as disturbing and disheartening, the resurgence of kidnapping in the region.

They raised the alarm following last Sunday’s attack on a commercial bus on the Ijebu Ode-Sagamu expressway and the abduction of 20 travellers by bandits.

The group said the new trend was unacceptable and challenged southwest governors to rise to the challenge and rejig the security architecture in the area.

The Publicity Secretary of the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifer, Jare Ajayi, said the resurgence of kidnapping in the South West and other parts of the country is very disturbing and disheartening saying what they thought had been a thing of the past has shown up again.

READ: Your Economic Policies Making Nigerians Poorer – Afenifere Knocks Tinubu

“We, in Afenifere, feel disturbed and it is disheartening to hear news of kidnapping again after a long time. We urge all tiers of government to buckle up and develop modern security technology to nip it in the bud. Some of the things they can do include using modern security technology such as drones and CCTV to monitor events in the region.

“They can also convene a town hall meeting which will involve all stakeholders because we feel there is an insider in it.”

The organisation noted that besides the Ijebu Ode-Sagamu road, there were pockets of kidnap attempts in Oke Ogun area especially in Igbeti and Iseyin.

Also, the National Organizing Secretary of Afenifere, Abagun Kole Omololu said, “The intelligence services and the police should be held accountable. It was a total negligence of duty on the part of law enforcement agencies. Criminals are always on the prowl like lions to attack, we have to be prepared for them. Policy changes are unhelpful.

“Former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase introduced “Safer Highways”. Citizens were reassured of safety on our motorways because of police patrols. But what we have now are roadblocks as centres for toll collection. I have also not noticed any Amotekun activities in Ogun unlike Ondo state axis”.