The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has expressed deep concern over the rising wave of kidnappings and killings across the South-West and several northern states, urging urgent and decisive action by the Federal Government to stem the tide of insecurity.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the group lamented that terror attacks, including abductions, now occur almost daily across the country, a development it described as both alarming and unacceptable.

Ajayi noted that while such incidents were previously associated with other regions, they have increasingly spread to states in the South-West, including Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo and Kwara, as well as parts of Kogi.

The group cited several recent incidents, including the kidnapping of a trader at Jinarere in Ibadan, the abduction of two staff members of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) along the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road, attacks on families in Ondo and Ekiti, and the killing of farmers in Tede and Ago-Are.

It also referenced attacks on security personnel in Kwara State, the displacement of traditional rulers due to bandit assaults, and raids on communities, including places of worship, markets and homes across affected areas.

Afenifere, therefore, called on the Federal Government, through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), to review its posting policy by allowing participants to serve within their states of origin or residence.

The group, however, cited cases of corps members who were attacked or abducted while travelling to orientation camps, stressing that such risks are avoidable.

The Afenifere, while advocating a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, called for the establishment of state police, strengthening of regional security outfits, such as the Amotekun Corps, and stricter monitoring of illegal mining activities, which it said often follow attacks on communities.

It further raised concerns over alleged complicity within security and political circles, noting that the ability of armed groups, often moving in convoys of motorcycles, to carry out attacks without interception raises serious questions.