Oriire Abduction, UNIOSUN Students’/ Army Recruits Clash, Others Feature In Afenifere’s Caucus Meeting ….Urges S’West Governors , Others To Intensify Efforts On Security

The pan Yoruba socio-cultural-cum-political association, Afenifere, has during its Caucus Meeting on Thursday in Akure delibrated on issues affecting the South West and by extension Kogi and Kwara states.

The abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, featured prominently in their discussion after almost 50 days in the bandits captivity.

The group also discussed the attack of the army recruits on UNIOSUN students in Osogbo leading to assault and loss of mobile phones and personal effects of some undergraduates.

Jare Ajayi, National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere in a Communique signed and made available to our Correspondent on Thursday said the group also commended President Bola Tinubu on the Executive State Police Bill sent to the National Assembly, adding that the President is trying to re-engineer Nigeria that everyone would be proud of.

Below is the full text of the Communique.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A CAUCUS MEETING OF AFENIFERE HELD ON THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF THE LEADER, CHIEF REUBEN FASORANTI OFR, CFR IN AKURE

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere held a Caucus Meeting on Thursday, July 2, 2026 in the house of The Leader, Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, OFR, CFR, in Akure, Ondo State At the meeting were delegates from Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Kogi, Osun and Ondo states. After welcoming and blessing members, the Leader, Pa Fasoranti directed HRM Oba Olu Falae, Chairman of the Executive Committee, to chair the meeting.

The meeting began by formally congratulating the immediate family of The Leader, Chief Reuben Reuben Fasoranti and Afenifere family generally on the centenary birthday that was marked on May 11, 2026. Members prayed that the Asiwaju of Yoruba will stay around for much longer in good health with a view to leading Afenifere and Yorubaland to a higher pedestal.

Besides discussing issues that affect the organization, Afenifere, the meeting also deliberated on various issues affecting Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole. Issues that were deliberated upon at the meeting bordered on insecurity, state police, economy, social and politics.

After serious deliberations, the Meeting resolved as follows:

1. The meeting raised particular concern over the abduction of pupils and teachers in three schools in Oriire local government area of Oyo State. Note was also taken of sundry kidnap incidents that are occurring in different parts of Yorubaland and Nigeria. Afenifere deeply sympathized with families of victims of the abductions and urged the authorities to work harder at ensuring that the abductees are freed soonest. “It’s about 50 days now that the incident in Oriire local government area occurred. It is a big pity that the victims have not been rescued up till now. We feel highly disturbed that these innocent Nigerians are going through avoidable trauma. Actions must be expedited to get them out of the den of the bandits as quickly as possible.

2. Afenifere congratulated the federal government under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for sending the bill on the establishment of State Police to the National Assembly. The body also lauded the Legislature for wanting to pass the Bill expeditiously.

However, there are some areas in the Bill that need to be reviewed. Areas that tend to make the proposed State Police appendages of the federal government. In other words, there are clauses in the Bill that tend to strengthen the stronghold of the federal government on state police rather than liberalizing it.Afenifere maintained that what the National Assembly and the State Legislatures need to do is to place Policing on the Concurrent List.

3. The meeting, for the umpteenth time, called on governors of the Yoruba states (including Kogi and Kwara) to take more decisive actions on insecurity that seems to be imperiling free movement in parts of Yorubaland among others.

4. The meeting received the news of the attacks on some hostels of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) with shock. We are shocked to learn that the attacks were allegedly carried out by army recruits from the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo, Osun State. As reported, the attacks resulted in robbing the students, man-handling some of them and inappropriately harassing some female students. It is gratifying to note that at least five of the recruits have been arrested as suspects. Afenifere is calling on the authorities to dig to the root of this incident with a view to ensuring that such a thing does not happen anywhere anymore.

The body is highly disturbed in noting that this happened not from the notorious bandits that we have always heard about but from the hands of young Nigerians being trained to go and protect the citizens and defend their country. It is therefore very important to bring the heavy hands of the law on them as they are likely to constitute a great danger to the society. This incident also calls for proper rejiging of how candidates for positions in our security agencies are recruited and trained.

5. The meeting reviewed what is going on on the political terrain as we approach the 2027 general elections and called on politicians and political players to go about their electioneering processes in a peaceful manner. It decried a situation in which thuggery occasioning losses of lives occurred. Afenifere warned that electioneering should be devoid of violence, thuggery and character assassination.

6. The meeting took note of the efforts of the military and other security agencies on security issues in the land. It commended the gallantry of our soldiers and commiserated with the federal government, the military and families of gallant soldiers and other security officers who lost their lives or got wounded in the process of defending the nation. The body then recommended that:

i. Security agencies be further strengthened with more equipment, morale boosting, enhancement of kinetic and non-kinetic security measures, etc.

ii. Government and security agencies, including the military, should look inward as insecurity continues to fester because there are internal collaborators. Such searchlight should also be beamed on local communities as there are collaborators among them as well. By the same token, sponsors of illegal mining should also be profiled as there seems to be allegations that people are being forced out of their lands only for mining to be taken place in the area almost immediately after the people were displaced by bandits.

7. Afenifere reiterated its position on Restructuring. The body took note of the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to re-engineer Nigeria that everyone would be proud of. It commended Mr. President on this and took note of the fact that some of the steps that his administration is taken is geared towards re-focussing Nigeria on the path of progress. We believe that restructuring will greatly assist and hasten the realization of this noble objective hence our consistent advocacy for it. Thus, while we took note of the steps being taken by Mr. President on restructuring, are urging him to do more.

8. Afenifere commiserates with the family of Dr. Femi Balogun, who, until his demise, was the Secretary of the organization in Ekiti State. The body also sympathizes with Members of the state’s chapter for the passing away of their hardworking Secretary. May his soul rest in peace.

Jare Ajayi

National Publicity Secretary, Afenifere.