The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently reform the nation’s security framework following recent attacks in Kwara and Kebbi States.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos by its national publicity secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere asserted that the nature of these attacks pointed towards sabotage intended to undermine public trust in the government.
“The level of insecurity necessitates a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s security architecture,” stated Mr Ajayi.
He indicated that sabotage could no longer be dismissed, noting, “High-level complicity, sabotage, and attempts to turn the populace against the government cannot be excluded.”
Additionally, he linked the attacks to intelligence leaks and internal collusion, suggesting that the sophistication of the operations indicated possible insider involvement.
“The complexity of these attacks demonstrates meticulous planning by individuals knowledgeable in military and intelligence operations,” commented Mr Ajayi.
He condemned the assault on a church in Kwara and the murder of rice farmers in the Edu Local Government Area.
The Afenifere spokesperson called for a detailed investigation into the utilisation of the £6.57 trillion defence budget for 2025, arguing that the escalating violence contradicts claims of sufficient funding.
Mr Ajayi advised Mr Tinubu to promptly implement the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy and insisted on strict enforcement of the Terrorism Prevention Act across all sectors.
He advocated for enhanced internal surveillance by the State Security Service and military intelligence, as well as a thorough security review of illegal mining sites nationwide.
The spokesperson recommended that serving military personnel concentrate solely on defence duties while retired veterans should be enlisted to alleviate personnel shortages.
He emphasised the urgent establishment of state police, advocating for expedited constitutional processes.
Mr Ajayi also called for ongoing training for all security operatives and urged anti-corruption agencies to regularly audit defence spending.
He cautioned against politicians who might exploit insecurity for political advantage, stressing that the government must tackle the socio-economic factors contributing to banditry.
He proposed community-based peacebuilding initiatives to mitigate complicity and sabotage.
