The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has raised fresh concerns over insecurity in the country and particularly in the South-west, calling on governors of the region to do more to stem the tide.
In a communique issued after its meeting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Tuesday, the group noted its earlier calls for urgent attention by the respective governments and agencies to the current situation in the country.
The group led by Reuben Fasoranti noted that the situation of insecurity in the land leaves a lot to be desired.
Afenifere expressed concern that banditry and kidnapping have become so rampant that they are occurring in the South-west region almost daily.
It noted that the situation is unacceptable and called on governments, security agencies and community leaders to rise to the challenges and find lasting solutions to the menace.
”Afenifere has repeatedly been calling attention to this menace. We were not just calling attention to the menace; we always provide ideas on the way out,” the group stated.
”In this wise, we call on state governors in the South-west to empower the security outfit Amotekun. We also appeal to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the state governments to expedite action on the much vaunted State Police.
”Afenifere called on governors of South-west to do more in strengthening Amotekun with a view to curtailing insecurity in the region.”
Afenifere’s call comes amid recurring kidnapping incidents in the South-west states comprising Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos, Osun and Oyo.
In Ondo State, gunmen attacked different communities in Akure, the state capital, on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, kidnapping several individuals, including pregnant women.
Although the police pledged efforts to rescue the victims and bring perpetrators to justice, not much has been achieved in this regard.
Other resolutions
Afenifere also called on the South-west governors to come up with a rail line project that will link the capitals of the six states in the region.
”The rail-line and effective security cauldron can be extended to Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta states as well in alignment with the governments of those states,” the organisation said.
The group also examined the contents of the Tax Laws as announced by the federal government, urging that the threshold of N800,000 be raised generously upward so as to enable more low-income earners to benefit.
Afenifere noted that the intention of the government with the tax laws was to, among others, relieve low-income earners of financial burdens.
”But the way it is presently structured, low-income earners are likely to be at the receiving end,” it said.
Afenifere commended the federal government on the construction and reconstruction of roads in various parts of the country.
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It appealed to the government to prevail on the contractors handling the road projects to expedite action in terms of quality as well as duration for the completion of the projects.
Specifically, Afenifere appealed to the government to motivate respective contractors to quickly complete works on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ibadan-Ilorin-Mokwa road, Abeokuta-Abeokuta road, Ibadan-Ijebu-ode road, Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo-Ikirun-Offa-Ilorin road, as well as Akure-Ore-Okitipupa-Igbokoda-Akinfosile-Igbotako road.
