Terror Attacks : Yorubaland Now Under Siege – Afenifere Declares 

A ​Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has raised the alarm over what it described as a coordinated wave of terror attacks across the South West geopolitical zone, declaring that Yorubaland is now effectively under siege.

Politics Nigeria reports that the apex body’s declaration followed a recent surge in killings, abduction of schoolchildren, highway ambushes, and targeted kidnappings that have triggered widespread anxiety across regional boundaries.

​In a statement issued on Sunday, by the group’s publicity secretary, Mr. Jare Ajayi, following an emergency meeting of its leadership, Afenifere expressed deep concern over the apparent helplessness of state actors, warning that the economic and social fabric of the region is facing an existential threat.

According to the organisation, the frequency of attacks on major arterial roads connecting South West states and schools, indicated that criminal syndicates and terrorist elements have established deep footholds in the region’s forests.

The organisation condemned attacks by terrorists on motorbikes against Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; and L.A. Primary School all in Oriire Local Government area of Oyo State on Friday, May 15th.

“Afenifere Leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, was saddened to hear this unfortunate incident which occurred the same week he marked his 100th year on earth. He sympathised with the victims and their families just as he prayed for the quick recovery of those who were injured.

‘Besides, he expressed the hope that a total stop would be put to the life-threatening insecurity situation in the country without further delay,” Ajayi stated.

Afenifere commended the swift visit of IGP Tunji Disu to Oriire arena of Friday’s kidnap and the inauguration of Police’s Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) at Ibadan by Governor Makinde on Saturday, May 16, 2026 and expressed the hope that the initiatives will lead to the prevention of crimes including banditry.

The group noted that it is no longer a matter of isolated criminal incidents; there is a deliberate, systematic attempt to overrun our communities. From the borders of Kwara down to the creeks of Ondo and the highways of Oyo and Ogun, our people can no longer travel or farm in peace. Yorubaland is under siege, and the silence of the federal authorities is deafening.”

Afenifere stated that the recent targeting of traditional rulers, travelers, and rural farmers has exposed the severe limitations of the current centralised security architecture.

The group lamented that despite multiple assurances from federal security agencies, the forests flanking the region remain heavily compromised.

The socio-political group argued that the persistent insecurity underscored the urgent need for a total overhaul of the country’s policing system.

It insisted that the state-backed Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, must be fully empowered with modern weaponry and institutional independence to counter the sophisticated firepower of the attackers.

​”We cannot continue to ask our local security outfits to confront battle-hardened terrorists with Dane guns and batons. The governors of the South West must take the bull by the horns. If the Federal Government cannot protect our people, then our states must be legally permitted to do so without bureaucratic bottlenecks,” Afenifere warned.

​The body also called on South West governors to immediately convene a regional security summit to harmonise intelligence sharing, seal porous border points, and launch a sustained, simultaneous flushing operation across all forest reserves in the zone.

​Reiterating its long-standing stance on the governance structure of the country, Afenifere maintained that the current security crisis is a direct symptom of flawed federalism.

The group insisted that until devolution of power and state policing are fully constitutionalised, regional vulnerability would persist.

​Afenifere urged local communities to remain vigilant, reactivate traditional internal security mechanisms, and cooperate closely with local law enforcement to prevent further infiltration.

“Every necessary step must be taken to ensure that terrorists do not have a place not to talk of a foothold in Yorubaland – from Lagos up to Kogi including Edo and Delta States,” Afenifere stated.