A concerning wave of insecurity has swept across the South West region of Nigeria, prompting Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, to sound the alarm. The region has experienced a surge in kidnapping, armed robbery, and other criminal activities, leading to a palpable sense of unease among its residents. The recent armed robbery attacks at two commercial banks in Ikere, Ekiti State, which tragically resulted in the loss of three Amotekun security personnel, serve as a stark reminder of the escalating threats facing the region.
Jare Ajayi, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security situation in a statement issued on Sunday. The events in Ekiti followed closely on the heels of the murder of Mr Taiwo Oyekanmi, the Director of Finance in Ogun State, who fell victim to armed robbers on November 29, 2023. The criminals not only ended his life but also made off with millions of naira intended for government workers, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.
In a poignant recount of the unfolding crisis, Mr Ajayi highlighted further distressing incidents, including the kidnapping of individuals and deadly attacks. The abduction of seven people, along with a fatal incident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, underscored the gravity of the situation. The harrowing tale of 13-year-old Miracle Adereti Kolawole’s abduction while returning home from school in the Ikotun area of Lagos casts a shadow of fear and urgency over the region. The ensuing police response and rescue efforts, led by Inspector Ogidiolu Olajimi, reveal the dedicated efforts to combat these heinous crimes.
The reverberations of terror extended their reach to various parts of Lagos, with reports of sundry abductions in Ikotun, Okota, Ejigbo, Alimosho, Egbeda, Agege, and Amuwo Odofin. The audacious nature of these acts, coupled with the demand for exorbitant ransoms, served as a chilling testament to the brazenness of the perpetrators. Tragically, some victims met a grim fate even after the payment of ransoms, further compounding the anguish wrought by these criminal acts.
Mr Ajayi poignantly lamented the ominous cloud of fear that now shrouds commuters traveling along the region’s highways, tinged with the ever-present threat of attacks. Urging swift and decisive action, he directed a clarion call to President Bola Tinubu, imploring him to address the root causes fuelling the recurrent scourge of kidnappings and banditry that plague the region.
The resurgence of criminal activities in the South West has cast a long and foreboding shadow, imperiling the safety and security of its inhabitants. As Afenifere raises its voice in a plea for intervention, the urgent need for proactive measures to quell this tide of insecurity cannot be overstated. All eyes now turn to the authorities, as the hope for a swift remedy rests upon their coordinated and resolute response.
