Afenifere: Northerners’ failure to curb banditry harms all Nigerians

The Yoruba socio‑political group Afenifere has warned that insecurity is worsening across Nigeria because the government and other responsible parties are not fulfilling their duties.

In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere criticized the Katsina State government’s claim that General Rabe Abubakar died of natural causes.

Ajayi argued that powerful figures, especially in the North, are avoiding confrontation with the “ogre of insecurity” for reasons they claim are best known to them, even as the crisis claims hundreds or thousands of lives.

He said that by attributing the General’s death to nature, the Katsina State Government is effectively giving bandits an excuse to continue their violent acts.

According to Ajayi, the “failure of northern governments and leaders to rein in bandits in their midst is creating problems for people in the South, including Yorubaland.”

He added that the conduct of northern leaders makes efforts to tackle insecurity in the South a “herculean task.”

Afenifere further stated that the terror incidents in the Southwest are being carried out by “bandits from the northern part of the country,” a claim that security chiefs have also confirmed.

“To stop banditry and related insecurity acts in Nigeria, there is an urgent need to take prompt action against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and their sponsors wherever they are,” the group said.

Afenifere expressed concern over Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s disclosure that abductors of school children and teachers in Oriire Local Government were hiding in a forest covering ten local government areas, deepening fears about insecurity in Yorubaland.

The group noted that the abductions of school children in Oyo and Borno States a month ago cast a serious shadow over what was to be a joyous celebration of Nigeria’s 27th uninterrupted year of civilian rule.

Ajayi concluded by urging Southwest governors to unite in securing the region and to pressure the federal government to take decisive action against the country’s insecurity problems.