The Afenifere National Youth Council (AYC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on kidnapping in the Southwest. According to the group, the alarming rise in abductions and killings has created widespread fear and instability. If the government fails to act swiftly, they warn, the situation will only worsen.
In a letter addressed to the president, AYC President Prince Eniola Ojajuni described the crisis as a full-scale war against innocent Nigerians. He recently endured 12 days of captivity after being kidnapped in Akunnu, Ondo State.
“I Was Shot, Starved, and Left to Die”
Ojajuni shared his harrowing experience, explaining how his captors shot him with an AK-47, left him without food, and ignored his injuries. As a result, he now struggles with sleepless nights, anxiety, and constant fear. Moreover, he revealed that criminals have transformed forests into ransom hubs, while major highways, including the Lagos-Abuja Expressway, remain unsafe for travelers.
Urgent Call for Government Action
To tackle the crisis, the AYC outlined several immediate measures for the president to implement:
Declare a state of emergency on insecurity in the Southwest.
Deploy military forces to reclaim forests from criminals.
Strengthen border security to prevent the entry of armed groups.
Provide more funding and equipment for Amotekun and other local security forces.
Investigate ransom payments to track financiers of kidnappers.
Organize a Southwest Youth Security Summit to develop long-term solutions.
Additionally, Ojajuni stressed that kidnappers collaborate with tech-savvy insiders who help track victims. Therefore, he urged security agencies to identify and dismantle these networks immediately.
“Our People Live in Fear – This Must End”
In conclusion, Ojajuni emphasized that the Southwest cannot afford further delay. Without urgent intervention, he warned, more lives will be lost, and communities will continue to suffer. He called on the federal government to act decisively before the crisis spirals further out of control.
