Afenifere charges Buhari to show terrorists he’s in charge

Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to go beyond condemning attacks and killing of Nigerians and show terrorists and kidnappers he is still in total charge of the nation.

Afenifere spoke through its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, decrying the rising insecurity in Nigeria and wondering if Buhari is aware of the situation in the country.

Citing various cases of killings and kidnappings for ransom across the country, Ajayi said no part of the country is safe.

Lamenting three cases of kidnapping in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, which resulted in the death of the victims, the spokesman of the Afenifere said insecurity festered because of the “kid-glove manner” with which Buhari’s government has been dealing with it.

He said, “Terrorists and kidnappers have been so emboldened that they now attack security institutions at will and malevolently go into houses of their victims to deal with fellow Nigerians – all under the watch of government and security agencies.

“Instances that can be cited in this respect included the following: Reports have it that bandits on the night of Sunday, August 7, attacked and killed three persons while scores were reportedly abducted by the attackers in Bali town, headquarters of Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State.

“The bandits began to raid people from house to house after overpowering the security personnel at the checkpoint.

“Just last Friday, four police officers were killed when gunmen attacked Agwa Divisional Police Headquarters in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria’s South-East.”

Regretting how the government and security agencies have failed to achieve the expected result due to “uncoordinated strategies among others,” Ajayi faulted the idea of re-integrating confirmed terrorists and bandits “as evidence had shown that such seemingly reintegrated bandits go ahead to commit crimes that are more heinous than the ones they were known for beforehand”.

According to him, Buhari must go beyond condemning and prove to the terrorists that he’s still in charge.

“Equally important, President Muhammadu Buhari needs to come out and let perpetrators of terrorism and kidnapping know that he has had enough. He should let them realize that the pact he signed with Nigerians was not to come and see to the serial termination of their lives but to ensure their security, improve their welfare and move the nation to a desirable next level. Unfortunately, the president has not been able to deliver on any of the desirables. He only brought to the nation the negatives which were far from the expectation of anybody,” he added.