The Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, has called on President Bola Tinubu to seek support from both domestic and international partners to tackle the country’s growing insecurity. The organisation warned that Nigeria’s stability and sovereignty are under threat, while the Federal Government appears unable to contain the rising violence.
In a statement by its Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye, Afenifere expressed alarm over the worsening security crisis and urged the government to act decisively to protect citizens.
The group criticised the current centralised system of governance, inherited from the military era, for denying ethnic nationalities, especially in the Middle Belt, their right to self-determination. It argued that this has contributed to the persistent attacks and killings in the region.
Afenifere condemned government negotiations with armed groups, describing such engagements as humiliating and ineffective, while noting that security forces are often overpowered by heavily armed attackers. The statement suggested that the government’s failure to act decisively has allowed violence to continue unchecked.
The organisation called for genuine restructuring to devolve power to states and regions, giving communities greater control over their affairs. It stressed that the core responsibility of government is to safeguard lives and property, and any measures that achieve this should be fully supported.
Afenifere urged President Tinubu, who has previously advocated decentralisation, to demonstrate leadership by taking strong and immediate steps to restore peace, strengthen security, and protect Nigerians from ongoing threats.
