The pan-Yoruba group warned that attacks and kidnappings targeting farmers are forcing many to abandon their farms, threatening agricultural production and food security across the South-West.

• Bandits Kill Four Amotekun Operatives In Ondo Farm Settlement
• Yoruba Monarchs Hold Meeting With Igboho Over Attacks
 
Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has warned that insecurity in the South-West is a serious threat to food security in the region and across the country.
 
This was even as four personnel of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as Amotekun Corps, have been confirmed dead following an ambush attack by bandits in Ago-Oyinbo farm settlement of Akure North Local Council Area of the state.
 
Afenifere’s warning was contained in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Friday by the National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Jare Ajayi.  
  
The group lamented the incessant attacks on and kidnapping of farmers and other innocent citizens in the region, citing the killing of a female farmer in Ondo State, the abduction of a 33-year-old poultry farmer, Mr. Ooreoluwa Osonuga, in Ikenne, Ogun State; killings of four farmers in Okeogun area of Oyo State and the abduction of Debo Farounbi in Ora, Osun State, among others.
 
“Abductors of the latter, Farounbi, who was kidnapped on June 9, 2026, have refused to release him despite the payment of N30 million according to sources. They are even asking for more money and motorcycles,” Ajayi said, adding that there were several such incidents in various parts of Yorubaland and elsewhere in Nigeria that were unreported.
  
According to him, in June this year, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) disclosed that persistent abductions of farmers, farm workers and agribusiness investors in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states had discouraged investment, reduced agricultural productivity and endangered the livelihoods of thousands of farming families.
  
“Many farmers now abandon their farms due to fear of abduction, ransom demands and violent attacks,” the group said.
  
An earlier report by The Guardian indicated that banditry and herders’ attacks had reduced agricultural-related activities in some parts of Yorubaland by about 40 per cent.
  
Afenifere spokesman revealed that during recent visits to Okeogun area and northern parts of Oyo and Ondo states respectively, some people lamented that they had abandoned their farms for three major reasons.

“One is fear of being kidnapped, second is the serious fall in prices that farmers could sell their proceeds as middlemen/middle-women (known as ‘Onibaranda’) are standing between them and direct purchasers while the third reason is grazing on farmlands by unscrupulous herders that have not stopped despite several lamentations, warnings and steps taken,” Ajayi said.
   
Ajayi quoted Mallam Shitu Kabir, President, Cowpea & Beans Farmers Association of Nigeria and Vice President of Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association, as stating that production of the commodities had dropped by almost 70 per cent in the North.
  
He added that research reports by local and international bodies such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Bank had indicated how regional insecurity had deeply altered agricultural practices.
  
Ajayi asserted that reports from various parts of the country painted a bleak picture for agricultural practices and raised the risk of hunger in the coming months if insecurity was not quickly put in check.
  
He said this was why Afenifere lauded President Bola Tinubu on his latest directive that a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan be formulated within 90 days to strengthen coordination across Nigeria’s defence, intelligence and security capabilities.
  
The body also commended the authorities and security agencies for the recent rescue of abducted students and teachers in Oyo and Borno states and urged them to deploy the same sagacity to rescue those still in captivity and prevent a recurrence.
 
Among the multi-layered measures suggested by Afenifere for resolving banditry in Nigeria were robust military action, tighter border control, strong community policing, a stoppage to incentives driving kidnapping and greater cooperation among communities, security agencies and people in authority to identify those abetting banditry.
  
Other steps included economic reforms to enhance purchasing power, reduction in the high cost of items and services, greater attention to “ungoverned spaces” and stringent sanctions against those caught in acts of banditry.
  

While calling on authorities at every level to buckle up, Afenifere specifically called on governors in the six states in the South-West to establish state police, strengthen Amotekun by increasing its personnel, provide modern communication tools, operational vehicles and surveillance drones, enforce anti-open grazing laws and form specialised ranger units to clear and patrol thick forest reserves being used by criminals as hideouts.
 
The organisation also urged the governors to integrate local hunters and vigilante groups into information-sharing networks and encourage modern ranching.
 
The Amotekun operatives were ambushed when moving from their base within the axis.
 
According to sources, the assailants engaged the security personnel in a fierce exchange of gunfire that lasted several minutes before the attackers fled into the bush.

While confirming the attack, the Public Relations Officer of the corps, John Adenekan said that “reinforcements were immediately deployed to the area following the incident, with joint security forces conducting intensive search operations to track the perpetrators.”

He added: “The Corps has also intensified patrols and intelligence-gathering activities within the affected communities to prevent further attacks.

“They demonstrated exceptional courage and commitment to the protection of the people of Ondo State.”
 
Meanwhile Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has expressed sadness over the loss of the security personnel, describing them as heroes who paid the ultimate price in service to the state.
 
The governor, alongside the Corps Commander and management, extended heartfelt condolences to the families, colleagues and loved ones of the fallen officers.

The Corps has appealed to members of the public to remain calm and vigilant while urging residents to provide security agencies with credible information that may assist in identifying and apprehending the perpetrators.

“We are fully committed to tracking down the perpetrators and bringing them to justice. The Corps, in conjunction with other security agencies, will continue to protect lives and property,” the corps maintained.
 
Meanwhile, traditional rulers in the South-West, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, have concluded plans to hold a crucial meeting on security with the Yoruba nation activist and founder of Iru Ekun Security Network, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.
 
The meeting, scheduled to take place in Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti State, today (Friday), will be hosted by Owa Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole.
  
A statement from Igboho’s media office on Friday disclosed that the stakeholders’ meeting would discuss critical issues, including security in Yorubaland and how to sustain prevailing peace and communal stability in the entire South-West region.
  
According to the statement, “this crucial meeting to be graced by all monarchs from Oyo, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun and parts of Kwara State will be presided over by the Co-Chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who also doubles as the Permanent Chairman of Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC).”
  
It added that the stakeholders’ meeting would dwell extensively on measures aimed at ensuring effective security of the South-West and synergy with local security initiatives such as Iru Ekun Security Network to protect Yorubaland, most especially rural communities, against any breach.

The statement said the meeting would also discuss extensively on the active involvement of traditional rulers in local security, bearing in mind their closeness to the grassroots and their critical roles in the prevention of crisis and management of disputes between Yoruba ethnic nationalities and other tribes in South-West communities.
 
While commending the enormous support of the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police and other security agencies to the Iru Ekun Security Network, the statement assured that the group would continue to cooperate with all stakeholders in the security sector to sustain prevailing peace and safety in the South-West.
 
It also appreciated the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd); Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu; Director-General of DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi and other heads of paramilitary agencies for their visible efforts, which the statement said had resulted in drastic reduction of cases of insecurity and other criminalities in Nigeria.