Afenifere has warned that recent Kwara and Kogi attacks are deliberate attempts to destabilize Nigeria.
The pan-Yoruba group alleged powerful local and foreign backers are sponsoring the violent assaults.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has raised alarm over recent violent attacks in Kwara and Kogi States, describing them as deliberate moves by terrorists and expansionist forces to destabilize Nigeria.
In a statement released on Friday in Ibadan by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the group warned that the incidents were part of a wider plot to establish illegal chiefdoms and undermine national security. It noted that the scale of the attacks and the type of weapons used showed that powerful backers, both within and outside Nigeria, might be supporting the perpetrators.
“The type of weapons they use, the manner of their attacks, and the intensity of the damage clearly indicate that very powerful people are sponsoring them locally and internationally,” Afenifere said, suggesting that so-called “illegal miners” and other groups could be involved.
The organization expressed sympathy to residents of Kwara and Kogi, who have not only faced terrorist attacks but also battled recent floods and boat mishaps that claimed lives and displaced thousands. It emphasized that terrorism in the Middle Belt was a growing danger to both the South-West and the rest of the country.
Afenifere also reminded sponsors and collaborators of terrorists that they would not be shielded from the consequences of destabilizing the nation. Drawing parallels with Libya after the fall of Muammar Ghadaffi and Afghanistan under Taliban rule, the group warned that violent instability always leaves deep scars. “Those supporting these evil doers need to remember that when the country is destabilized, they are not going to be immune,” the group cautioned.
It further noted that terrorism and armed invasions strip communities of human rights, disrupt economic life, and expose families, including those of sponsors, to violence and hardship.
Afenifere recalled that President Bola Tinubu, in his Independence Day broadcast, had assured Nigerians that his administration was working to curb insecurity. The group urged government to intensify those efforts, especially in the Middle Belt, which has long been a flashpoint for clashes between armed groups and farmers.
Apart from insecurity, residents in Kwara and Kogi are still grappling with environmental disasters. In September, heavy flooding caused by the River Niger displaced many families, while frequent boat accidents have raised concerns over safety standards on waterways.
