South Nigeria Faces Rising Insecurity, Group Calls for Urgent Action

A call to action has been made by the Southern Solidarity Alliance to the Federal Government, urging collaborative efforts with state and local governments to tackle the escalating insecurity in Southern Nigeria. The group, in a statement released on June 15, highlighted the dire situation, stating that banditry, kidnapping, and armed attacks have become a pressing national emergency. The statement, signed by National Coordinator Ndubuisi Okafor and Head of the Directorate of Publicity Emmanuel Ogheneganaye, emphasized that the surge in criminal activities across the South has led to coordinated and recurring threats, eroding public confidence in security institutions and disrupting economic and social life. The group cited numerous incidents in states such as Abia, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Oyo, and Ekiti, where communities have been plagued by killings, kidnappings, and attacks on highways and rural areas. Of particular concern is the increasing vulnerability of schools, with the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State's Oriire Local Government Area underscoring the susceptibility of rural communities to armed criminal networks. The alliance also noted the growing presence of banditry in Ogun and Osun states, as well as reports of suspected bandits being intercepted in parts of Lagos. The situation in the South-East and South-South regions is equally dire, with states such as Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Edo experiencing various forms of insecurity, including kidnapping and forceful occupation of land by herdsmen. The group stressed that the emerging security threats suggest the existence of cross-border criminal networks operating across regions, necessitating stronger intelligence gathering and inter-agency cooperation. To address the situation, the Southern Solidarity Alliance recommended the deployment of military air and ground forces to forests, the creation of state police, the establishment of community vigilante groups, and the installation of CCTV cameras and command centers across local governments. The group also advocated for the acquisition of drones by state governments for surveillance purposes and enhanced operational capacity for security agencies. Furthermore, the alliance called for improved inter-agency coordination, community policing, and intelligence sharing among affected states. The Federal Government was also urged to discontinue negotiations with terrorist groups and the policy of rehabilitating repentant terrorists, as these measures have not yielded positive results. Instead, the government should seek support from countries with experience in combating terrorism. Beyond security operations, the group emphasized the need for investments in youth development and rural economies, as insecurity often thrives in areas with governance gaps. The Southern Solidarity Alliance urged President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and local government chairmen to collaborate on measures to dismantle kidnapping syndicates, secure forests, and protect schools, highways, and rural communities. The group expressed solidarity with all victims of banditry and kidnapping across Southern Nigeria and the entire country.