● “When Obas abandon palaces, the system has broken down” — Jare Ajayi
Afenifere has raised fresh alarm over worsening insecurity in the South-West, declaring the region is no longer facing distant threats but is already under active infiltration by kidnappers and armed groups.
Speaking Wednesday on Frontline, Eagle 102.5 FM Ilese Ijebu, Afenifere National Publicity Secretary Comrade Jare Ajayi said the over 2-week captivity of victims in Oriire LGA, Oyo State, proves insecurity has moved from border communities into the heart of Yoruba land.
— “It’s already inside our communities”–
“It is not just that insecurity is at our doorstep anymore, it is already right inside our communities. We are already feeling it, we are already living with it,” Ajayi said.
“What is happening in places like Oriire shows that the situation has gone beyond warnings to reality.”
–Warning signs ignored–
Ajayi said the killing of forest guards in Oriire earlier this year should have been treated as a major security signal, not an isolated case.
“When the forest guards were killed in Oriire, we made it clear that it was not an isolated case. Those men were simply trying to prevent criminal elements from gaining access. Once they were removed, it became obvious that the attackers were clearing the way for larger operations.”
He referenced repeated Afenifere warnings about infiltration from Kwara border areas like Kaiama and Baruten, where communities have been deserted and “traditional rulers forced to abandon their domains.”
“When Obas are no longer able to remain in their domains, it means the system has already broken down in those areas,” he warned.
–“Amotekun is underfunded, coordination is weak”–
Ajayi acknowledged surveillance systems and control rooms introduced by South-West governors but questioned their effectiveness.
“The question is not just about what has been announced. The real issue is effectiveness. If these measures were properly harmonised, we would not continue to witness repeated attacks in the same communities,” he said.
He criticized the underfunding of Amotekun Corps: “Amotekun is a very good initiative, but personnel are few and not properly equipped. In many cases, they lack logistics and motivation to operate in dangerous environments.”
–“First 72 hours are critical”–
On the abducted Oyo schoolchildren, Ajayi described their captivity as a “humanitarian emergency.”
“These are innocent children being held in harsh conditions. The longer they remain, the more damage they suffer. This is why urgent action is needed,” he said.
Ajayi insisted the first 2-3 days after any kidnap are decisive: “Delay only strengthens the criminals and weakens chances of quick resolution. When intelligence is available but action is delayed, the system becomes reactive instead of preventive.”
–“Government must rise above”–
While supporting citizens’ right to protest, Ajayi said government must maintain control through balanced negotiation and force.
“Government has more information, more resources, and legitimate authority. Criminals must not be allowed comrade Ajayi to dictate the pace of events,” he stated.
