The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation Afenifere has voiced serious concerns on the rise of armed robberies in Nigeria’s southwest.
The group has demanded that the Federal Government and security services move swiftly to address the rising number of insecurity-related incidents, especially armed robberies and kidnappings.
Afenifere voiced concern about recent armed robbery incidents in a statement posted on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi. The statement referenced the event that occurred last Wednesday at two commercial banks in Ikere, Ekiti State.
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Three Amotekun security personnel tragically died as a result of the incident, while other innocent people suffered severe injuries.
Afenifere emphasised that the Ekiti event happened soon after the November 29, 2023, murder of Mr. Taiwo Oyekanmi, an Ogun State director of finance, in Abeokuta by armed robbers who stole millions of naira meant for government employees.
The group also cited recent events, like the December 1, 2023, kidnapping of Miracle Adereti Kolawole, a 13-year-old student, in the Ikotun neighbourhood of Lagos, and the assassination of one person and the kidnapping of seven individuals on the Lagos-Ibadan Motorway.
Concerned about the rising number of kidnappings in several parts of Lagos, Afenifere mentioned reports of events in Agege, Ikotun, Okota, Ejigbo, Alimosho, Egbeda, and Amuwo Odofin.
The group demanded that President Bola Tinubu address the underlying issues that lead to national insecurity and that immediate action be taken to give local government units and states the authority to create and manage police forces.
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Afenifere highlighted the need for improved welfare for security guards, the use of contemporary technology for security, and a quicker legal system for people detained for banditry.
Afenifere also emphasised the significance of acting quickly to reduce the nation’s socioeconomic problems, empowering the populace, and promoting public confidence in the government.
Additionally, the group promoted deradicalization initiatives and education programmes to deter communities from hiding known offenders.
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