Follow Us on Google
By Oluseye Ojo
A wave of terror, within the past six months, has been sweeping through the previously peaceful South West region of Nigeria.
Startled and bewildered, the inhabitants now find themselves living in a relentless state of fear and trepidation, over the sinister actions of merciless criminals. The geo-political zone, in recent weeks, has seen a sharp rise in kidnappings and indiscriminate killings, prompting concerns over the government’s seeming ability to protect its citizens. The alarming incidents have left a trail of victims, including innocent school children, teachers, traditional rulers, farmers, travellers, drivers, and politicians. The atrocities, according to public opinion conducted in Yorubaland, were committed by herdsmen, with collaboration of some inside sources in the affected places.
Recent wave of terror
One of the most disturbing incidents occurred on Monday, January 29, 2024 when six students, three teachers, and a driver of the Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary School in Emure-Ekiti were kidnapped while returning from Eporo-Ekiti. The targeted abduction took place in the evening, as the group travelled in a school bus.
Some moments before the abduction of the schoolchildren, two traditional rulers in the same Ekiti State – the Onimojo of Imojo- Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsola, were killed by people suspected to be kidnappers, on their way back from a security meeting. The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Mr. Phillip Aivoji, and a few others were kidnapped at Ogere, Ogun State on Ibadan-Lagos Expressway on Thursday January 25, 2024, when returning to Lagos from Ibadan.
About two weeks ago, some gunmen struck along Akure-Ado Ekiti Expressway, and abducted some passengers in two vehicles at Iju area of Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. The recent kidnap incidents in Otu, Saki and Okaka in Oke-ogun area of Oyo State, were also highlighted. Also, some days ago, a farmer at Gege area, along Ogbomoso-Iseyin Road in Oyo State, Evangelist Segun Adegboyega, was killed by people suspected to be herdsmen over destruction of the crops in his farm.
On November 17, 2023, some gunmen reportedly abducted a nurse, identified as Mrs S. Ogunyinka, while returning from a farm along Iwo/Ileogbo Road in Osun State.
In the same Osun State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in August 2023, confirmed the kidnapping of six persons in Oyan town by gunmen. The six victims were reportedly kidnapped on the way back from a farm in Odo-Otin North Local Council Development Area.
Lagos State is also battling with its own share of the insecurity, especially kidnapping and robbery of commuters by ‘one chance’ criminals, operating in commercial buses. It is also on record that LASU-Iba-Isheri Road in Alimosho Local Government witnessed kidnapping cases within the past few months. The Ago Palace Way in Okota is another place where kidnappers operated in recent time.
Also, on Tuesday January 16, 2024, an explosion occurred at Dejo Oyelese Street, off Adeyi Avenue, Old Bodija Estate Ibadan. The blast dispatched close to 10 persons to their early graves, close to 80 person were injured, and scores of buildings completely or partially damaged. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said illegal stockpiling of mining explosives by miners in residential area caused the unfortunate incident. It is also on record that some of the victims of kidnapping later regained their freedom, after payment of ransom in millions of naira, while a number of the abducted lost their lives in the kidnappers’ den.
.
Govt reactions
The Federal Government and governors of the concerned states have always been talking tough whenever such incident occurred. They have been calling on security agencies to rescue the victims and fish out either the abductors or the killers, and bring them to justice. On the recent abduction of schoolchildren and killing of two Kings on Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, and notable personalities, including Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, come out to condemn the act in strong terms. Governor Oyebanji, described the abduction of the school children and killing of the two kings as heinous, callous and unacceptable. The governor vowed that no effort would be spared in the mission to secure the safe rescue of the victims.
In Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday January 31, signed an Executive Order 001 of 2024 on the safe handling of harmful substances. While signing the order at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, Makinde said: “We are signing the Executive Order 001 of 2024, and this is on the safe-handling and storage of harmful substances within Oyo State, including mining explosives, gas .This was in addition to the care that the state has provided for the victims of the blast.
“We are doing this in light of the unfortunate incident at Bodija, where explosives were stored in a residential area. So, dated today, 31st of January 2024, we have the Executive Order, which is now a law in the state.”
A delegation of the Federal Government, led by Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, had been to the scene. He condemned the blast and vowed that the Bola Tinubu-led administration would do the needful as soon as the forensic investigation into the explosion is concluded.
Why FG, govs should involve non-state actors – Gani Adams
The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, noted that the last three months have been frightening, as cases of killings and kidnappings are on the increase in Nigeria, especially in the South West. “It is of great concern also that the insecurity scourge has reared its ugly head in Yorubaland and the situation is getting worse by the day.
“The recent kidnapping of the PDP chairman in Lagos State is a pointer to the increasing rate of insecurity in the country. Though the PDP chairman had been released; the ransom paid to the abductors will not be made public. “Unfortunately, the Ogere park along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has been infiltrated by gunmen that are hiding as drivers. The bad element are now relocating to Lagos. Remember that was how it started in Plateau State.
“As the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, we will not allow the Plateau massacre to be replicated in any part of Yorubaland.
“But it must be stated that there is urgent need for a lasting synergy between the government and the people at the grassroots. With the present security situation in the country, it is obvious that the government cannot do it alone.
“If the governors of the South West involve me in their efforts to curb insecurity in the region, I assure you that the security challenges in the region will reduce drastically within six months. A good example of our involvement in curbing the security challenges in Lagos was when the Badoo gang was the major security threat in Lagos and Ogun States, especially in Ikorodu area of the state.
“Badoo threat was a big problem for residents of the town. But our timely intervention on the security threat did the magic. And we were able to put a stop to the Badoo threats in Ikorodu town. Both the Federal and the state government must be ready to partner with us-the stakeholders and the people at the grassroots in order to tackle the prevailing security scourge.”
Afenifere advocates multi-level policing system
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, after a careful review of the security situation in Yorubaland and Nigeria, suggested to President Bola Tinubu to issue an Executive Order that would proclaim multi-level police forces, saying states and local government areas that so desire should be legally allowed to have own police services that would operate within their areas of jurisdictions respectively.
National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Mr. Jare Ajayi, told Saturday Sun that the Executive Bill could then be forwarded to the National Assembly for the amendment of relevant sections of the Constitution to allow multi-level policing, and would go a long way in solving the problem.
“Experiences we had in the past and of such countries like Britain and United States of America, “are a clear indication that the time to allow for multi-level policing has come. But such police forces must be by state actors and not by non-state actors because of possible abuse.” He cited the feats being performed by Amotekun Corps in South West states in spite of the constraints they have, saying: “if states and local government councils are allowed to operate police services, putting criminality, including abductions, under control would be easy. “ Ajayi called on Tinubu to urgently convene community/stakeholders meeting to tackle the increasing insecurity in the country. He added that in places where herders wreaked havoc, it had been ascertained, through some dwellers in the communities, that such a thing was done by those who were having or intending to have access to the land of those who innocently harboured them. He alleged that hegemony and territorial taking-over were the motives behind the attacks being perpetrated by herdsmen.
Level of insecurity is mind-boggling -YCE
The Secretary-General, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Chief Oladipo Oyewole, told Saturday Sun that without any doubt, the level of insecurity in Nigeria today is mind-boggling.
“From all that is seen in Nigeria today, there seems to be only one major cause of incursion (insecurity) affecting South-West Nigeria today. Action and utterance seems to be in the actualisation of an inordinate commitment to claim all of the land mass called Nigeria.
Last month, Miyetti Allah established a security force to ‘accompany herdsmen’ when cows are led into pastures. They are uniformed. They have been launched. And the police have yet to say no, to resist the action.
“Where do cows graze? Of course, in the South West. When uniformed vigilantes guard herders and perform nefarious activities, what should be expected is anarchy,” the b The YCE told the South West governors that they must protest against the militancy nature of Miyetti Allah and they must beef-up the activities of Amotekun.
“The governors and local government chairmen must ensure further training for a consolidated Amotekun Corps, whilst interested able bodied volunteers should be encouraged to join them for service. Obviously, Miyetti Allah and the caliphate have something under their sleeves. We must not be caught napping. The South West must take a proactive step and all citizens must be adequately protected. It is only when we are alive that we may have rights.”
State police as lasting solution
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State as well as Afenifere and other critical stakeholders have called for the establishment of state police as a way to get out of the quagmire of insecurity in Nigeria, especially in Yorubaland.
