Declare State OF Emergency In Southwest Before It’s Too Late – Afenifere Warns Tinubu

AYC President, Prince Eniola Ojajuni, expressed these concerns in a letter to Tinubu, highlighting the escalating crisis, particularly in Ondo State. Ojajuni, who was kidnapped in Akunnu, Ondo, last month, recounted his harrowing 12-day ordeal, during which he suffered gunshot wounds and endured starvation.

He described how criminal groups have turned forests into ransom hubs, while major highways, especially the Lagos-Abuja expressway, have become dangerous kidnapping hotspots. Farmers, once the backbone of the region’s economy, now fear for their lives, unable to access their lands.

In his letter, Ojajuni outlined several urgent measures, including:

1. Declaring a total state of emergency on insecurity in the Southwest.

2. Deploying special military forces to reclaim forests from kidnappers.

3. Strengthening border security to prevent criminal infiltration.

4. Empowering local security outfits like Amotekun.

5. Investigating the flow of ransom payments to dismantle financial networks of kidnappers.

6. Enhancing surveillance in Lagos and Ondo States, particularly in high-risk areas.

7. Encouraging Southwest governors to collaborate on a regional security strategy.

Ojajuni also emphasized the role of tech-savvy youths aiding kidnappers, noting that some criminals operate with local informants fluent in Yoruba and Ondo dialects.

He urged Tinubu to take swift action, warning that the situation has escalated into a full-blown security crisis that threatens lives, businesses, and regional stability.

His call for federal intervention follows Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, underscoring the urgency for similar measures in the Southwest.