.Seeks multi-level policing, youth corps service in immediate environment

Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, called on Federal Government and its security agencies to take decisive actions to arrest the fast-degenerating security situation in the country.

The National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, who made the call in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, lamented that reports from various parts of the country were indicating an upsurge in acts of banditry, especially kidnapping.

Lamenting that terrorists are attacking farmers, road users, students, youth corps members, among others,

Afenifere called for the establishment of state and local government police forces, and to boost the morale of security officials in terms of remuneration, provision of modern equipment, proper kitting and technological innovations.

“Drones should also be deployed in various parts of the country, while quick dispensation of justice for kidnappers and bandits too must be accelerated.

“To put an end to the risks faced by youths, especially youth corps members, these youths should be allowed to serve their fatherland within their localities, within their states of origin or within their state of domicile.

“This is to put an end to the corps members being kidnapped in the process of making long-distance journeys as happened to the corps members going to Sokoto from Akwa Ibom State.”

He said the process of establishing community policing should be supported by government’s welfare packages for the people, pointing out that there is a consensus that hunger and cost of living are major contributing factors to the insecurity in the land.

On how hunger fuel insecurity, he quoted President Bola Tinubu as saying, during his engagement with South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, in New York City, ahead of the 2023 United Nations General Assembly, that: “Democracy without food on the table is a breeding ground for what will consume us, if care is not taken.”