Afenifere Urges FG to Tackle Kidnappings in Lagos, Ekiti Bank Attack

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization, Afenifere, has urged the Federal Government and security agencies to take decisive actions against the increasing cases of insecurity, especially kidnapping, in the country.

The group made this appeal in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, over the weekend.

He also asked the FG to swiftly address the ‘political, economic and ideological factors’ that the Department of State Security, DSS, spokesperson, Mr Peter Afunaya, blamed for the frequent occurrences of kidnapping and banditry.

Afenifere said the appeal was necessary because of the rising kidnap incidents in Lagos, Ogun, Kwara, and other parts of the country.

Newsflash Nigeria reported that armed robbers raided two commercial banks in Ikere, Ekiti State last Wednesday, killing two Amotekun security operatives, and three citizens.

Mr Taiwo Oyekanmi, a Director of Finance, Ogun State, was also killed on November 29, 2023, in Abeokuta by armed robbers who stole millions of naira meant for government workers.

In addition, seven people were abducted and one person was killed on Monday at Fidiwo on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

This followed the kidnap of Miracle Adereti Kolawole, a 13-year-old student, by an unknown gang while returning home from school on Friday, December 1st, 2023 in Ikotun area of Lagos. Afonka Police Station in Egbeda, Alimosho, Lagos, confirmed the incident and assigned Inspector Ogidiolu Olajimi to lead the investigation and rescue efforts.

According to published reports, several abductions took place in Ikotun, Okota, Ejigbo, Alimosho, Egbeda, Agege, Amuwo Odofin areas of Lagos towards the end of October.

Ajayi condemned the Ikere-Ekiti banks robbery and other acts of banditry, saying that they could have been prevented if adequate security measures had been taken.

He cited the example of Ikere Ekiti, where Mr. Femi Ekundayo, National President of Ikere Development Forum (IDF), revealed that the State and the Federal Government left the entire Ikere local government area without any functional police station since arsonists burnt down the two divisional police stations in the town during the #ENDSARS protest in 2020. This claim has not been refuted.

He said this was largely why the gang could operate at the two banks in broad daylight without any resistance.

“To use the Ikere Ekiti incident as an example, the disclosure by Mr. Femi Ekundayo, national president of Ikere Development Forum (IDF) that the State and the Federal Government left the whole of Ikere local government area without any functional police station since arsonists burnt down the two divisional police stations in the town during the #ENDSARS protest in 2020 has not been refuted.

“This was largely responsible for how the gang could operate at the two banks in broad daylight without being challenged.”

He further stated that after the kidnap incidents on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in 2022, where former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Adigun Agbaje and others were victims, governors of Ogun and Oyo States and security agencies promised citizens that the highway would be secured.

He expressed serious concern that a few weeks before the yuletide period, commuters on the highway had to travel with fear of being attacked.

Newsflash Nigeria is an online newspaper that is developed and written exclusively for Nigerians. It’s packed with up-to-the-minute Local and National Economy News, Share & Capital Market, Health, Sports, Education, Technology, Business and Opinions.

To make further advert enquiries or place an order, please contact us at [email protected] and +2348053316946 and WhatsApp number 08033546732