PAN-YORUBA sociopolitical organisation, Afenifere, yesterday asked Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits, who it said have declared war on the nation.
The group made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting held at the house of the acting leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo.
Among those at the meeting were the Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan; the Secretary-General, Chief Sola Ebiseni, Chief Supo Sonibare, Abagun Kole Omololu, Leke Mabinuori, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Dr. Gbola Adetunji, Dr Alonge, Mr Babatunde Tijani, Dr. Amos Akingba, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Prof. Akin Onigbinde and Dauda Adam, among others.
The meeting said the security situations in the country were not only threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria, but making Nigerians to be living in fear as many were losing their lives and properties to kidnappers and terrorists.
It called on the Federal Government to urgently end various acts of terrorism, kidnapping, herders/farmers clashes and the like.
“This, the government can do, by immediately allowing states to have their own police. In fact, the security apparatus should be democratised down to the local level.
“In the meantime, every community must be at alert to realise that they must defend themselves from bandits who seem to have declared war on Nigeria,” the organisation said.
Afenifere expressed concern over what it called the unprecedented security problems occasioned by the influx of people even from outside Nigeria.
It noted that some of them were disguising as Okada riders, calling on the government and security agencies to stop influx of people with questionable intentions.
It said, “Terrorism and related vices including kidnapping are now so worrisome that in some cases, our people in places like Yewa, Ogun State, Oke Ogun in Oyo State, etc are forced to be relocating into Benin Republic and other West African countries.”
“Urgent actions must be taken to guarantee the security of these people and to put a stop to what is causing them agony.”
