Afenifere issues warning as bandit attacks and kidnappings rise in Yorubaland, urging authorities to strengthen regional security measures

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere has warned that the surge of terror attacks in states bordering the South-West is heightening fears of bandit incursions into Yorubaland.

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In a statement released on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the group highlighted repeated attacks in Kwara, Kogi, and Niger states, alongside recent kidnappings in Ondo, Ekiti, and Oyo states, as particularly troubling.

Reports indicate that heavily armed bandits invaded Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State last week, killing nearly 200 people and abducting several others.

Additional attacks occurred in Kogi, Edo, Niger, Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, and Katsina states. On Thursday, incidents in Edo and Oyo saw several residents, including a junior secondary school girl in Ibadan’s Challenge area, abducted.

Afenifere described the developments as “very disturbing,” noting that abductions are no longer confined to rural areas but now occur within towns and cities, including marketplaces, schools, and places of worship.

Ajayi recalled that the six South-West governors had, at their November 24, 2025 meeting in Ibadan, resolved to strengthen regional security, including plans to establish the South West Security Fund and monitoring centres.

Ogun State recently inaugurated closed-circuit television centres for surveillance.

“Banditry and terrorism are continuing not because there is no information on or about bandits and terrorists,” Ajayi said. “Terrorism is becoming pervasive because even the information available is not being processed and used in the interest of the people.”

He cited the attack on Woro village, where prior warnings were reportedly sent to authorities but ignored.

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The group also criticised reported peace pacts with bandits in northern states, arguing that such agreements have not prevented further attacks, and urged authorities to take stronger, law-based action against perpetrators.