Pan-Yoruba socio-political group warns of growing youth radicalisation, pays tribute to late Senator Abraham Adesanya
Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has raised alarm over the escalating wave of terrorism across Nigeria, particularly in the North-East, North-Central, and North-West regions, attributing the surge to poor governance, foreign interference, and systemic socio-economic failures.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the group cited several factors fuelling insecurity, including ungoverned spaces, porous borders, arms proliferation, the complicity of state actors, and illegal mining operations. Afenifere warned that these issues, if left unchecked, could plunge the nation into deeper chaos.
“Ungoverned territories, weak institutional capacity, and a rising culture of wealth at any cost are at the heart of Nigeria’s security crisis,” the group stated. It further noted that sabotage by unscrupulous politicians, ethno-religious bigotry, and ineffective governance had worsened the situation.
Referencing a January 2025 statement by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and a recent claim by Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, Ajayi said there is credible evidence that foreign interests are actively fuelling terrorism in Nigeria.
“There have been consistent reports linking foreign elements, particularly from Mali, to attacks on Nigerian soil,” he noted.
The PUNCH reports that banditry and terror attacks have recently rocked states including Plateau, Benue, Niger, Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, and Kwara, resulting in significant loss of lives and destruction of property valued in billions of naira.
Afenifere criticised the weakness of governance at the state and local levels, identifying it as a major enabler of terrorism. Citing the Queer Ladder Theory, the group argued that organised crime thrives in environments where government enforcement is weak, corruption is widespread, and opportunities for legitimate livelihoods are scarce.
The group also warned that terror networks are increasingly recruiting uneducated and unskilled northern youths, describing the development as a national emergency. It recalled a previous report estimating that over 30,000 bandits were active in the North-West as far back as 2010 — a number that has only grown in the face of inadequate educational outreach and economic disempowerment.
Echoing the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Afenifere said: “The failure to educate the poor will one day disrupt the peace of the rich.” The group also referenced the Frustration-Aggression Theory, suggesting that unmet expectations among marginalised youths often lead to violent expressions of anger and hopelessness.
In a separate statement, Afenifere honoured its former leader, the late Senator Abraham Adesanya, who passed away on April 27, 2008. Signed by Organising Secretary Kole Omololu, the tribute described Adesanya as “a titan of conscience and courage,” lauding his legacy as a defender of justice and champion of true federalism.
“A beacon of progressive thought and an unrelenting advocate for national equity, Senator Adesanya’s life embodied moral authority in an era plagued by tyranny and democratic subversion,” the group said.
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