The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has blamed the worsening security situation in Nigeria on what it described as the failure of northern leaders and governments to confront banditry and other violent crimes in their region.
The group said the unwillingness of influential figures in the North to decisively tackle insecurity has allowed criminal elements to grow stronger and expand their operations into other parts of the country, including the South-West.
Afenifere made its position known in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, in which it expressed concern over the handling of the reported death of General Rabe Abubakar.
The organisation specifically faulted the explanation reportedly given by the Katsina State Government that the retired military officer died of natural causes.
Ajayi argued that such a narrative raises questions and could undermine the fight against insecurity by providing criminal groups with an excuse to continue their activities unchecked.
According to him, governments and other stakeholders who should be actively involved in addressing the country’s security challenges have failed to take the necessary steps to end the menace.
“Insecurity is festering in the country because those who should be concerned are not doing what they are supposed to do,” the Afenifere spokesman stated.
He added that powerful individuals, particularly in the North, appear reluctant to confront the growing threat posed by bandits despite the heavy toll the violence has taken on their own communities.
“Powerful people, especially in the North, are shying away from confronting the ogre of insecurity for reasons best known to them, even when this monster is consuming hundreds, if not thousands, of their citizens,” Ajayi said.
He argued that attributing General Abubakar’s death to natural causes without proper scrutiny could embolden criminal groups.
“By ascribing the cause of the General’s death to nature, the Katsina State Government is giving the bandits an alibi to continue to perpetrate their evil acts,” he added.
Afenifere maintained that the consequences of insecurity in the North are no longer limited to that region, stressing that Nigerians in the South are increasingly bearing the effects of the crisis.
According to Ajayi, the failure of northern governments and leaders to rein in bandits operating within their territories is creating serious security challenges for people living in the South, including Yorubaland.
He further noted that the situation has made it more difficult for southern states to effectively tackle insecurity within their own boundaries.
“The antics of leaders in the North are making efforts at tackling insecurity in the South a herculean task,” he said.
The group also alleged that many of the violent crimes taking place in the South-West are linked to criminal elements from the northern part of the country.
Afenifere said security agencies themselves had at various times indicated that bandits operating in parts of the South-West had connections with groups from the North.
It stressed that a lasting solution to insecurity would require decisive action against both perpetrators and those sponsoring them, regardless of their status or location.
“For banditry and related insecurity acts to be stopped in Nigeria, there is the urgent need to take prompt steps against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and their sponsors wherever they are,” Ajayi said.
The organisation also expressed concern over recent incidents of kidnapping in the South-West, saying they have heightened fears among residents.
It cited the disclosure by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde that those responsible for the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area were believed to be hiding in a forest stretching across 10 local government areas.
Afenifere said the revelation had deepened concerns over the state of security in what it described as the heartland of Yorubaland.
The group recalled that the kidnapping of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states occurred around the period Nigerians were marking 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, thereby casting a shadow over what should have been a moment of national celebration.
Nigeria returned to democratic governance on May 29, 1999, ending years of military rule. Since then, the country has witnessed regular elections and civilian administrations. However, insecurity has remained one of the biggest challenges facing successive governments.
Over the years, Nigeria has battled multiple security threats, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and North-Central, separatist violence in parts of the South-East, and rising cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in other regions.
Bandit groups, initially concentrated in states such as Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Sokoto, have increasingly extended their operations into other parts of the country. The activities of these groups have led to thousands of deaths, mass displacement of communities and disruption of economic activities.
School abductions have also become a troubling feature of the country’s insecurity crisis. Several students and teachers have been kidnapped in recent years, triggering national outrage and renewed calls for stronger security measures.
Against this backdrop, Afenifere urged governors in the South-West to strengthen regional cooperation in order to protect lives and property.
The organisation called on the governors to work closely through existing security structures and to intensify efforts aimed at safeguarding communities from criminal attacks.
At the same time, it appealed to the Federal Government to demonstrate greater determination in confronting the country’s security challenges.
According to the group, only a united and decisive approach involving federal and state authorities can halt the spread of banditry and restore confidence among Nigerians.
Afenifere insisted that insecurity should not be viewed as a regional problem but as a national emergency requiring urgent action from leaders across the country.
The group warned that failure to confront criminal elements decisively could further threaten national unity, public safety and the country’s democratic gains.