Afenifere Wants Leaders in the Southwest to Tackle Insecurity

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Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, a Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, has expressed concern over the increasing attacks and kidnaping in Yorubaland. At a meeting on March 25, 2026, held at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State, stakeholders agreed on the need for leaders in the southwest geopolitical zone to battle the menace of insecurity before it completely gets out of hand.

The event themed “Before the Storm arrives – an examination and interrogation of the current issues of ‘the politics of security’ and the “security of politics” in Yoruba land – A Dialogue & Conversation with Gen. Alani Akinrinade [Rtd] was organized by the Ogun State chapter of the group. It was chaired by Segun Odegbami, the retired ace footballer and sports columnist.

Bunmi Awotikun, chairman, Ekiti State Chapter offered anthem of the group while Wale Oshun, National Chairman of the group gave opening remarks. He particularly expressed admiration for the commitment of General Alani Akinrinade, (retd), a former chief of army staff.
Hear him: “When we are talking about leaders in Nigeria, Baba stands-out, he has always been there for us in our region.”
Seye Oyeleye, Director General of DAWN Commission, also thanked General Alani Akinrinade for not giving up on Yorubaland, stating that “at 86 years, he still there for us,” adding that “Baba will always travel across yorubaland to solves issues.” Part of those issues was what informed the gathering. So, it was in character for the general to be there. That issue is the crisis of security in the region, and Nigeria in general.
He said “Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb which has now exploded, children of 26 years ago which we failed to train are now carrying guns after us and our children”
“We have become a proverbial fathers who can only take care of three children but gave birth to thirteen children”
Oyeleye called on President Bola Tinubu to kindly decentralise the centre and allow each region to control its resources and police.

He said it is disheartening that states in the southwest, once considered relatively peaceful, compared to other parts of the country, are now witnessing a disturbing rise in kidnapping, armed attacks and killings.
According to Oyeleye, “Southwest recorded sharp rise in insecurity over the past months, with over 89 reported security incidents across southwest states in the last 2 months of 2026 [Halogen Group, 2026].
“In many rural communities and along major highways, residents now live in constant fear as criminal gangs exploit forests and remote areas to carry out violent operations. The situation has heightened anxieties among farmers, travelers and residents who increasingly feel unsafe in their own communities.” What makes the development even more disturbing is that the “violence has not spared community leaders and traditional institutions.” He recalled an unfortunate incident of February 18, 2026, when “Oba Kehinde Jacob Falodun, the Alagamo of Agamo, was abducted in his compound and later shot dead a few meters away from his residence.”
Such incidents, he said, “have further deepened the sense of insecurity across the region and raised serious concerns about the safety of lives and property”. He concluded by emphasising the need for people of the region to gear up and
“confront our demons”.

General Alani Akinrinade in his speech said that government should know that if people are not happy, they are not fine as well.
He called on Southwest leaders to properly equip the Amotekun security outfits, warning that no one can go to war without being equipped. He stated that if they are equipped across the Southwest states, they will perform effectively.
He urged government to post police personnel to their states of origin, so that they would not have difficulty getting to understand the environment they police.