In response to the escalating menace of kidnapping and terrorism across various states, the Reuben Fasoranti faction of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization, Afenifere, has urged President Bola Tinubu to employ the carrot and stick method as a strategic approach.
Expressing deep concern over the surge in criminal activities within Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Borno, Sokoto, Niger, Ondo, Katsina, and Rivers states, the faction highlighted specific flashpoints where criminality has been rampant. Notably, security agencies deployed detachments to Igbeti and Sepeteri in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, during the last week of the year to thwart a suspected banditry plot.
Residents of Akoko, Igbara Oke, and other parts of Ondo State are reported to be living in fear due to the presence of armed herdsmen, while parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have witnessed a rise in apprehension among residents regarding kidnappings.
Reuben Fasoranti emphasized the need for tailored strategies to combat diverse motives behind criminal activities, stressing the necessity to convene meetings with local leaders, representatives of youths, religious bodies, artisans, and even identified marauders in affected areas.
Fasoranti stated, “At such meetings, a carrot and stick approach has to be employed.” The call signifies a plea for a nuanced and multifaceted strategy to address the complex nature of the various forms of terrorism, involving both economic and territorial motivations.
As the nation grapples with these security challenges, Afenifere’s recommendation underscores the importance of engaging different stakeholders to devise effective and targeted measures in the ongoing efforts to curb terrorism and insecurity.
