Kidnapping, Banditry Should Not Persist Due To Fear Of Governors Abusing State Police — Afenifere
Kidnapping, Banditry Should Not Persist Due To Fear Of Governors Abusing State Police — Afenifere
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has warned that rising cases of kidnapping and banditry across the South-West must not be allowed to persist simply because of fears that state governors may abuse a proposed state police structure. The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Comrade Jare Ajayi, made this known during an interview on Frontline, a public affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, on Tuesday, where he expressed serious concern over what the organisation described as increasing security threats in the region.
Recall that the socio-political group in a statement on Sunday, said repeated attacks in Kwara, Kogi and Niger states, alongside recent kidnappings in Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo States, presented a deeply troubling security trajectory.
According to Ajayi, while concerns about the potential misuse of state police by governors are understandable, such fears should not prevent the country from adopting stronger security structures needed to tackle criminal activities. Rising Attacks Trigger Concern Ajayi said the organisation’s recent statement was prompted by a series of disturbing incidents of kidnapping and attacks recorded across parts of the South-West. He cited the case of a medical doctor and his brother who were kidnapped in Ondo State, explaining that the incident reflects the growing boldness of criminal groups operating in the region.
“We are extremely disturbed and concerned. Quite a number of incidents prompted the statement we issued. For instance, we cited the case of a medical doctor and his brother who were kidnapped in Ondo State. The younger brother was killed, and the doctor was brutalised,” Ajayi said. “There were also repeated attacks in communities in Akure and other parts of the region. In one case, a man was shot while trying to resist kidnappers who wanted to abduct his wife, yet the wife was still taken away.
Along the Oyo axis as well, travellers were attacked and taken into the bush. All these happened within a short period.” Ajayi also pointed to recent security developments in Kwara State as further evidence that banditry and kidnapping are spreading beyond their traditional strongholds, warning that the situation requires urgent and coordinated action by security agencies. According to him, the rising attacks in communities within the state demonstrate how criminal groups are gradually expanding their operations into new territories. “When you look at what is happening now in places like Kwara State, it confirms that the problem has gone beyond isolated incidents.
Communities had earlier raised alarm about the presence of bandits in their forests, but those warnings were not taken seriously until the attacks started manifesting,” Ajayi said. “This shows clearly that when intelligence from local communities is ignored, the consequences eventually become visible. The situation in Kwara today is a clear indication that banditry and kidnapping are spreading and must be tackled before it becomes deeply entrenched.
” He stressed that the development underscores the need for stronger collaboration between federal security agencies and local authorities to respond swiftly to early warning signs. He noted that the frequency and spread of the attacks have heightened fears among residents of the region. Ajayi also acknowledged the installation of surveillance infrastructure by some South-West governments but stressed that technology alone cannot solve the security crisis without decisive enforcement.
“The establishment of CCTV monitoring centres by some state governments is a good initiative because they are meant to monitor movements and identify criminal activities. But from what we have gathered, the challenge is not only about identifying these criminals,” he said. “Even when locations of suspected bandits are known through intelligence or surveillance, the real issue is the determination and the capacity of security agencies to move in quickly and confront them.” Migration of Bandits to the South Ajayi attributed part of the rising insecurity in the South-West to the displacement of bandits from northern regions where security forces have intensified military operations. According to him, many of the criminal groups are relocating in search of new operational territories.
“One of the factors responsible is the continuous pounding of bandits in the northern part of the country, particularly in the North-West and the North-East. Because they are being pressured there, they are looking for other places where they can continue their operations,” he said.
“That is why we are seeing an upsurge in areas that were previously considered relatively safe in the South-West.” He stressed that communities and governments in the region must take proactive steps to prevent the situation from escalating further. Insecurity Not an Isolated Crime Ajayi insisted that the security challenge facing the country is more organised than many people realise. According to him, the activities of kidnappers and bandits are often linked to larger networks with broader objectives. “This is certainly not an isolated crime situation. It is coordinated. There are people who are interested in territorial expansion and others who are interested in exploiting natural resources available in parts of the South-West,” he said.
“That kind of situation goes beyond what individual communities or local governments can deal with. It requires decisive intervention from government authorities.” Amotekun Needs Strengthening While acknowledging the role of the regional security outfit, Amotekun Corps, Ajayi said the corps requires stronger operational support to perform effectively. He said the challenge facing the outfit is not lack of commitment from personnel but inadequate equipment and logistics.
“The Amotekun template that has already been established is a good one, but frankly speaking, in terms of practical performance, it sometimes appears more like an optical presence rather than a fully empowered security force,” he said. “This is not due to lack of commitment by the personnel involved. The problem lies in the kind of weapons available to them and the level of motivation and resources provided.” Ajayi therefore urged governors in the South-West to improve the operational capacity of the corps by increasing personnel, remuneration and equipment. Meanwhile, some states are already reinforcing the security outfit to combat security worries.
This is as the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, on March 2, 2026, approved the recruitment of additional 1,000 personnel for the State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps. While also speaking on Frontline, Former Commandant of the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command Retired Major General Ishola Williams, specifically cited the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, as a practical demonstration of how community policing should function, describing it as Nigeria’s most structured and culturally grounded internal security model, despite facing severe funding and operational limitations.
Illegal Mining and External Interests Ajayi further suggested that illegal exploitation of natural resources may be contributing to insecurity in parts of the country. According to him, the sophistication of weapons used by bandits suggests the involvement of powerful financial sponsors. “The kind of weapons being carried by these criminals are not cheap. A single AK-47 rifle costs hundreds of thousands of naira. When you see the number of bandits carrying such weapons, it becomes clear that they are not acting alone,” he said.
“Some suspects that have been apprehended have even confessed that what they receive after kidnapping operations is just a small amount, sometimes as little as forty thousand naira, while the larger sums go to those sponsoring them.” He warned that the situation could escalate if such networks are not dismantled. State Police Still Necessary Ajayi maintained that the creation of state police remains an important step toward addressing Nigeria’s security challenges. He commended ongoing discussions between the Federal Government and the National Assembly aimed at amending the constitution to allow the establishment of state police.
“The determination by the president to ensure that state police becomes a reality is an acknowledgement that the present centralised security structure is not delivering the desired results,” he said. “Nigeria is a very large and diverse country, and relying entirely on a central security system cannot adequately respond to local security challenges.” Ajayi also referenced the role of the current Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, noting that his early actions indicate a willingness by the national police leadership to cooperate with broader security reforms, including the proposed creation of state police.
According to the Afenifere spokesman, the posture of the new police chief shows recognition within the security establishment that the existing structure requires stronger collaboration with emerging reforms. “The step taken by the new Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, to swing into action is very important. The Nigerian Police, as it exists now, still has a major role to play even while the country is considering the introduction of state police,” Ajayi said. “What the Inspector-General has demonstrated is that he is ready to cooperate with the executive arm of government, the President, and the National Assembly to ensure that whatever reforms are necessary for the security architecture of the country are implemented effectively.” He added that such institutional cooperation would be necessary to ensure that the transition toward a more decentralised security system strengthens, rather than weakens, Nigeria’s fight against banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes. Safeguards Against Abuse Despite supporting the idea, Ajayi acknowledged fears that state governors could misuse the system for political purposes.
He said such concerns should be addressed through institutional safeguards rather than abandoning the proposal. “Yes, there are fears that governors may abuse state police, and that concern is understandable. But we cannot say that because of a possible problem, we should refuse to adopt a system that can help improve security,” he said. “What we need are mechanisms that will reduce the possibility of abuse. For example, there should be a state police council made up of representatives from different sectors of society, not just the governor acting alone.”
He added that strong legal frameworks must also allow citizens to challenge abuses through the courts. Call for Decisive Action Ajayi concluded by urging governments at all levels to demonstrate stronger political will in tackling insecurity. “Kidnapping and banditry should not be allowed to continue simply because people are afraid that governors might abuse state police,” he said. “What is required is determination, preparedness and the resources needed to confront the problem. Governments must act decisively before the situation gets completely out of hand.” He also called on South-West governors to strengthen regional security collaboration and take immediate steps to protect communities from further attacks.i
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