Afenifere Youths Demand Action on Southwest Insecurity at Ibadan Summit

By Mo Hanif 

IBADAN, Nigeria — On May 6, 2025, the Yoruba Afenifere Youth Organisation of Nigeria (YAYON) convened a critical security summit at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, to address the escalating insecurity plaguing the Southwest and other Yoruba-speaking regions. The summit, attended by traditional rulers, security experts, and community leaders, underscored the urgent need for coordinated efforts to curb violent attacks, including kidnappings, armed robbery, and farmland destruction.

YAYON’s National President, Eric Oluwole, presented a communiqué highlighting the growing threat posed by displaced terrorists and armed groups infiltrating the region’s forests. The organization called for the establishment of a South-West Joint Security Task Force, urging federal and state governments to act swiftly. Additionally, they proposed a standing committee comprising security agencies, traditional rulers, farmers, hunters, and community leaders to monitor and review the region’s security landscape regularly.

Dignitaries, including Dr. Victor Taiwo of the Council of Yoruba Elders and Otunba Obafemi Arowosola, Zonal Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee, emphasized the need for intelligence-driven strategies and sustained action. “The safety and economic stability of the Southwest are at stake,” Oluwole stated, reaffirming YAYON’s commitment to collaborate with stakeholders to restore peace.

The summit’s resolutions reflect broader concerns raised by Afenifere, the parent pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, which has consistently advocated for strengthened security measures, including state police and enhanced support for regional security outfits like Amotekun. The recent kidnapping of YAYON’s own National President, Prince Eniola Ojajuni, in February 2025, further highlighted the region’s vulnerability, amplifying calls for decisive action.

As insecurity continues to threaten lives and livelihoods, the Ibadan summit marks a pivotal moment for Yoruba youth leaders to galvanize support and push for a safer Southwest.