Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has raised the alarm over what it described as a coordinated wave of terror attacks across the South West geopolitical zone, declaring that Yorubaland is now effectively under siege.
The apex body’s declaration followed a recent surge in killings, abduction of schoolchildren, highway ambushes and targeted kidnappings that have triggered widespread anxiety across the region.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Jare Ajayi, following an emergency meeting of its leadership, Afenifere expressed deep concern over the apparent helplessness of state actors, warning that the economic and social fabric of the region was facing an existential threat.
According to the organisation, the frequency of attacks on major roads linking South West states and schools indicates that criminal syndicates and terrorist elements have established deep footholds in the region’s forests.
The organisation condemned attacks by terrorists on motorbikes on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinle; and L.A. Primary School, all in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Friday, May 15.
“Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, was saddened to hear of this unfortunate incident which occurred in the same week he marked his 100th birthday. He sympathised with the victims and their families and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured.
“Besides, he expressed the hope that a total stop would be put to the life-threatening insecurity situation in the country without further delay,” Ajayi stated.
Afenifere commended the swift visit of IGP Tunji Disu to the Oriire scene of Friday’s kidnap and the inauguration of the Police Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) in Ibadan by Governor Seyi Makinde on Saturday, May 16, 2026, expressing hope that the initiatives would help prevent crimes, including banditry.
The group noted that the situation was no longer a matter of isolated criminal incidents.
“There is a deliberate, systematic attempt to overrun our communities. From the borders of Kwara down to the creeks of Ondo and the highways of Oyo and Ogun, our people can no longer travel or farm in peace. Yorubaland is under siege, and the silence of the federal authorities is deafening,” it stated.
Afenifere said the recent targeting of traditional rulers, travellers and rural farmers had exposed the severe limitations of the current centralised security architecture. The group lamented that despite multiple assurances from federal security agencies, the forests flanking the region remain heavily compromised.
The socio-political group argued that the persistent insecurity underscored the urgent need for a total overhaul of the country’s policing system.
It insisted that the state-backed Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, must be fully empowered with modern weaponry and institutional independence to counter the sophisticated firepower of the attackers.
“We cannot continue to ask our local security outfits to confront battle-hardened terrorists with Dane guns and batons. The governors of the South West must take the bull by the horns. If the Federal Government cannot protect our people, then our states must be legally permitted to do so without bureaucratic bottlenecks,” Afenifere warned.
The body also called on South West governors to immediately convene a regional security summit to harmonise intelligence sharing, seal porous border points and launch a sustained, simultaneous flushing operation across all forest reserves in the zone.
Reiterating its long-standing stance on the governance structure of the country, Afenifere maintained that the current security crisis is a direct symptom of flawed federalism.
The group insisted that until devolution of power and state policing are fully constitutionalised, regional vulnerability would persist.
Afenifere urged local communities to remain vigilant, reactivate traditional internal security mechanisms and cooperate closely with local law enforcement agencies to prevent further infiltration.
“Every necessary step must be taken to ensure that terrorists do not have a place, not to talk of a foothold, in Yorubaland — from Lagos up to Kogi, including Edo and Delta states,” Afenifere stated.
NAPTAN urges Makinde, security agencies to ensure timely release of kidnapped Oyo teachers, students.