The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed support for Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, over his efforts to combat banditry and insecurity in the South-West.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the group maintained that Igboho’s actions were aimed at tackling criminality rather than targeting any ethnic group. Afenifere urged individuals criticising or threatening the activist to avoid escalating tensions, stressing that his focus remained on those involved in kidnapping, terrorism, and other violent crimes.
The organisation’s reaction followed recent comments by Igboho after the abduction of a woman and her children in Igbope, Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State. The activist had reportedly given kidnappers a two-hour ultimatum to release the victims or face consequences.
His remarks drew criticism from the Concerned Fulani People of Nigeria, which appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to caution him over what it described as inflammatory statements against Fulani communities.
Earlier this week, Igboho, through his spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki, clarified that his campaign was directed solely at criminal elements responsible for kidnappings, killings, banditry and other violent crimes, regardless of ethnicity or religion. He also urged Nigerians to work with security agencies to eliminate insecurity across the country.
Backing the activist, Afenifere argued that since Igboho had neither acted violently nor violated any law, demands for government action against him amounted to intimidation and blackmail.
The group noted that Yorubaland has long welcomed people from different parts of Nigeria, including many from the North, who have lived peacefully alongside indigenous communities. However, it said relations became strained following repeated incidents of farmland destruction by some armed herders, kidnappings and attacks on rural communities.
Afenifere also alleged that illegal mining activities could be contributing to insecurity, claiming that criminal groups often displace local residents before exploiting mineral resources in affected areas.
According to the organisation, many people associate the perpetrators of these crimes with northern-based criminal networks because similar forms of banditry have existed in parts of Northern Nigeria for years. It also referenced previous comments by senior military officers suggesting that some criminals operating in the South-West were displaced from the North-East.
The group insisted that Igboho’s criticism was directed at criminals and not the Fulani ethnic group, urging northern leaders to address the root causes of insecurity by tackling factors such as youth unemployment, poor education and social exclusion that could make young people vulnerable to recruitment by criminal groups.
Afenifere also commended President Tinubu for forwarding the State Police Bill to the National Assembly and praised lawmakers for processing the proposal swiftly. It urged state Houses of Assembly to approve the legislation once transmitted to them and encouraged governors to establish well-trained, properly equipped and adequately funded state police services after the law is enacted.
The organisation further recommended that state police personnel be recruited based on integrity, provided with modern technology, paid competitive salaries and covered by life insurance to enhance their effectiveness.
