The Yoruba for Democratic Values (YDV) has raised concern over worsening insecurity across Yorubaland, calling for unity among leaders, traditional rulers, and citizens to confront the growing threat.
The group expressed the concern in a statement on Thursday issued by its spokesman, Debo Adeniran.
It said rising cases of kidnapping, violent attacks, and criminal infiltration are becoming increasingly prevalent in parts of the South-West and Yoruba-speaking communities.
According to the group, “Recent developments across the Southwest should concern every Yoruba son and daughter irrespective of political affiliation, religious leaning, social status, or ideological persuasion.”
YDV noted that incidents of insecurity have been recorded in Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, and Kwara states, as well as Yoruba-speaking areas of Kogi State.
It said the situation shows that insecurity has “increasingly crept into the heart of Yorubaland.”
The group listed recent cases including school-related abductions in Oyo State, kidnapping incidents and arrests linked to criminal networks in Ekiti and Ondo, and attempted abductions in Ogun State.
It stressed that the situation required collective action rather than political division.
Meanwhile, the Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) has called on the Federal Government to account for the Safe Schools Initiative.
The group questioned the effectiveness of the programme more than a decade after its launch to protect schools from attacks and abductions.
The call was contained in a statement by its Chairperson, Mrs. Funmi Falana, SAN.
WELA expressed concern over continued attacks on schools and repeated abductions of students across the country.
It said recent incidents have reinforced fears among parents over the safety of children in schools.
According to the group, schools, which should serve as safe learning environments, remain highly vulnerable to criminal attacks.
It recalled that the Safe Schools Initiative was launched after the 2014 abduction of more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls.
The initiative was introduced in collaboration with private sector stakeholders and international partners to improve school security nationwide.
