Bandits Scare: Afenifere Charges South-West Govs to Beef Up Security
Afenifere, the leading Pan-Yoruba sociocultural organization, has urged South-West governors to urgently convene a meeting to devise strategies aimed at expelling bandits from the region. The call follows an alarming statement by Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, who raised concerns over the influx of bandits into the South-West.
Governor Makinde, speaking at the 2025 annual inter-faith service for workers in Ibadan, revealed that bandits displaced from the North-West due to military pressure are now infiltrating his state. He shared an unsettling experience during a birthday retreat in Fashola, where bandits camped less than two kilometers from his location, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
In a statement released in Akure, Ondo State, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, expressed that such alarming information from the Chief Security Officer of a state should not be taken lightly. He called for immediate action from South-West governors, emphasizing the need for a joint effort to ensure the bandits are driven out of the region.
Ajayi stressed the importance of collaboration between security agencies, traditional rulers, and local vigilante groups (Ode) to tackle the issue effectively. He also highlighted the necessity of providing security personnel with modern equipment, technologies, and adequate incentives to combat the threat.
Afenifere also urged traditional rulers and community leaders across Yorubaland to stay vigilant and report any security threats, as the existence of such bandit camps was previously unknown to the public until Governor Makinde’s revelation. Ajayi warned that similar camps could be present in other parts of the South-West, underscoring the urgency for a decisive and coordinated response.
