Taoreed Abdullahi
President Bola Tinubu has been urged to declare a state of emergency regarding the escalating insecurity in the Southwest, particularly in Ondo State, in order to address the worsening situation.
In an open letter to President Tinubu, President of the Afenifere National Youth Council, Prince Eniola Ojajun highlighted the alarming rise in kidnapping incidents, which have left citizens living in constant fear for their safety and livelihoods.
Prince Ojajun noted that Ondo State, once celebrated for its agricultural activities, has now turned into a danger zone where farmers are afraid to access their farmlands as criminals have transformed local forests into ransom negotiation hubs, and major roads, particularly the Lagos-Abuja expressway, have become perilous routes for innocent travellers who are frequently kidnapped for ransom.
He expressed that the citizens would feel much safer if the president could deploy a special military operation to reclaim the forests from kidnappers and other criminal elements.
Prince Ojajuni believed that strengthening border security could help prevent the influx of rogue herders and terrorists into Southwest communities urging that local security agencies, including Amotekun, be better equipped and empowered to effectively combat these threats, ensuring long-term security reforms that promote lasting peace and stability.
Prince Ojajun called for a thorough investigation into the flow of ransom payments, which he claims often end up with Bureau de Change operators in the Southwest.
He also appealed for increased security surveillance in Lagos and Ondo States, particularly in abandoned buildings with high fences and locked gates, as these may serve as temporary holding facilities for kidnap victims before they are transported elsewhere.
He advocated for the engagement of youth associations in the fight against insecurity and emphasised that the Federal Government should require all political officeholders to conduct regular town hall meetings in their local government areas.
Prince Ojajun appealed to President Tinubu to direct Southwest Governors to collaborate and strengthen security networks by organizing a Southwest Youth Security Summit to address this crisis.
Sharing his personal experience, Prince Ojajun alleged that kidnappers collaborate with youths skilled in information and communication technology, ICT to track and monitor mobile devices. Some of these individuals, he claims, are members of the local communities who speak both the Ondo dialect and Yoruba fluently and act as informants for the criminals.
He mentioned that he had previously written to the Governor of Lagos State, urging him to convene an urgent Southwest Governors’ Forum meeting focused on security and youth engagement.
In his letter, which was made available to Radio Nigeria, Prince Ojajun described the current level of insecurity as a dire situation that has escalated to a full-blown war against innocent Nigerians. He stated, “Our roads are unsafe, our forests have been hijacked, and our people live in fear. Immediate action is required.”
Prince Ojajun shared his own harrowing experience, having been kidnapped for twelve agonizing days and nights in the wilderness, where he was deprived of food and clean water. He suffered significant injuries from AK-47 gunshot wounds, bled for days, and received no medical attention, attributing his survival solely to the grace of God.
Beyond the physical pain, he expressed that the psychological trauma is unbearable. He reported struggling with sleepless nights, living in constant fear, and experiencing distressing flashbacks. He recalled how the sound of any sudden noise jolts him awake, forcing him to relive his ordeal.