The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed serious concern over the recent surge in banditry across the South-West, particularly following a security alert issued by the Department of State Services, DSS.
DAILY POST reports that the DSS recently alerted the general public that terrorists are planning to attack worship and public gathering centres in Osun State with a view to imperilling the forthcoming general elections.
According to the secret police, other places planned for attacks include schools, market places, motor parks etc.
Reacting, Afenifere in a press statement by the organization’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, called on the “authorities concerned not to take these indicators lightly”.
“It is gratifying to note that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu kept harping on putting a stop on the menace of banditry and terrorism in the country.
“Minister of State for Defence, Mallam Bello Matawale, in the course of his visit to Kano, reiterated this point. We call on all those concerned to put more effort into making the desire of the President to stop terrorism and banditry in the country realizable within the shortest time possible,” Ajayi said.
The apex Yoruba cultural organisation.also lamented the escalating security crisis in parts of the country, citing the latest bandit action on Igbeti-Igboho Road, and kidnap incidents in Ondo, Kwara and Kogi states.
Ajayi added that Afenifere is “seriously concerned and hope that this would not be a precursor of a dastardly incident to come.
“In many communities where fatal attacks and/or kidnapping incidents have occurred, ‘Aroko’ i.e. indicators were always given like a prior notice or minor terror acts meant to serve as a warning.
“Such took place in Ekiti, Ifelodun, Baruten, Kaiama and Edu local government areas of Kwara State, in communities in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Kogi, Sokoto, Katsina, Borno and Nassarawa States to mention a few”.
Afenifere worried over DSS alert on planned terror attacks on worship centers