The Pan-Yoruba Socio-cultural and Socio-political organization, Afenifere, has called on governments in the South-West to beef up security in the region.
The call followed reports of influx of bandits into the South-West.
The body made the call in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, following an alarm raised by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, that bandits being dislodged in the northern part of Nigeria are camping in parts of Oyo State.
According to the Governor, “During a security briefing, I learnt that some bad elements from the North-West are relocating here due to military heat in their zones,”
Reacting, Afenifere noted that the disclosure, coming from the Chief Security Officer of a state is not something to be treated with levity.
The organization therefore called on all the Governors of the South-West to, “as a matter of urgency, hold a meeting to map out strategies to expel the bandits from the region and to ensure that such elements do not infiltrate Yorubaland at any time again”.
“For these objectives to be achieved, there is the need to carry certain groups along.
“These are the security agencies that will implement whatever security decisions are reached, traditional rulers, heads of local vigilantes and Hunters known as ‘Ode’”, the statement said.
Afenifere added that whatever strategies that were devised should include functional up-to-date equipment for those who would be on the fields, attractive incentives and the deployment of modern technologies to assist in identifying the bandits and their hideouts.
While urging security agencies and citizens not to take the issue of security lightly, Ajayi concluded by saying that traditional rulers and community leaders in different parts of Yorubaland should not keep quiet whenever they notice any indication of security threat.