The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed firm support for Yoruba Nation advocate, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, over his efforts to tackle banditry and insecurity across the South-West.
In a statement released on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, in Ibadan, Oyo State, the group urged individuals criticising or threatening Igboho to maintain peace, stressing that his actions were aimed at criminal elements rather than any ethnic group.
READ MORE: Afenifere Backs Igboho’s Fight Against Banditry
According to Afenifere, Igboho’s position was directed solely at those involved in kidnapping, terrorism and other violent crimes in Yorubaland, not at any particular ethnic nationality. The organisation maintained that there was nothing unlawful or inappropriate about his determination to protect communities from criminal activities.
The statement followed Igboho’s reaction to the abduction of a woman and her children in Igbope, located in Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State. In response to the incident, the activist reportedly issued a two-hour ultimatum demanding the victims’ release or warning the kidnappers of severe consequences.
Earlier in the week, the Concerned Fulani People of Nigeria, through its Convener, Ibrahim Barkindo Chubado, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to caution Igboho over what the group described as provocative remarks aimed at Fulani communities in the state.
However, Igboho, through his spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki, clarified on Monday that his campaign for improved security in the South-West was never intended to target any ethnic group. He explained that his concern was strictly with criminal elements responsible for kidnappings, killings, banditry and other violent crimes.
He also urged Nigerians, regardless of ethnic, political or religious affiliations, to work together with government authorities and security agencies in the fight against insecurity nationwide.
Backing the activist, Afenifere argued that since Igboho neither resorted to violence nor violated any law, demands for government sanctions against him amounted to intimidation and an attempt to silence legitimate concerns over insecurity.
The organisation noted that several northern groups, including the Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Coalition of Northern Groups and the Concerned Fulani People of Nigeria, criticised Igboho’s ultimatum and called on the President and Governor Makinde to reprimand him.
Afenifere dismissed those demands, insisting that there was no legal basis for any punitive action against the activist, adding that it stood firmly behind his campaign against criminality.
The group further observed that Yorubaland has for decades remained a peaceful home for many people from northern Nigeria, many of whom have settled and coexisted harmoniously with indigenous communities without discrimination.
It, however, claimed that tensions escalated after some Fulani herders allegedly began invading farmlands, destroying crops and, more recently, incidents of kidnapping and attacks on rural communities increased.
Ajayi also alleged that individuals involved in illegal mining activities had been linked to the financing of terrorism, claiming that such operators often occupied lands after local residents had been displaced by violent attacks.
He argued that because terrorism and banditry had long plagued northern Nigeria, and many suspects arrested over such crimes were reportedly of northern origin, particularly Fulani, many people naturally associated the perpetrators with the region.
Ajayi further claimed that senior military officials had previously disclosed that terrorists currently operating in parts of the South-West were remnants of insurgent groups displaced from the Sambisa Forest during military operations in the North-East.
Afenifere reiterated that Igboho’s criticism was never directed at the Fulani ethnic group as a whole but specifically at individuals responsible for kidnapping, extortion, killings and other violent crimes.
The organisation also advised northern leaders to address the underlying conditions that make it easier for terrorist groups to recruit members. According to Afenifere, widespread poverty, unemployment and the large population of out-of-school youths remain key factors fueling insecurity.
The group commended President Bola Tinubu for forwarding the executive bill on the establishment of state police to the National Assembly and praised lawmakers for their swift consideration of the proposal.
It further appealed to state Houses of Assembly to approve the legislation promptly once transmitted to them, urging governors to establish and adequately equip state police formations after the bill becomes law.
Afenifere recommended that state police personnel should be carefully recruited, professionally trained, properly equipped with modern technology and adequately remunerated. It also called for comprehensive life insurance and welfare packages for officers to enhance their effectiveness and commitment.
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