Afenifere Blasts Security Agencies Over Falae’s Kidnap

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Wednesday, September 30th, 2015

By Ayo Balogun

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has said it is still bewildered by the kidnap saga of one of Yoruba’s foremost Yoruba leaders, Chief Olu Falae.

The body blasted the police for not being able to handle the issue as it remained helpless in cases involving kidnappers.

ARG in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Chief Olawale Oshun said Falae’s account had removed every doubt as to the character and content of the kidnap, the callousness of the kidnappers and the total helplessness of the Nigerian police and security forces.

“ARG is aware that the Directorate of Security Service is located in all local government areas of this country. But rather than face the arduous task of covert operations that intelligence services are known for all over the world, they are all over the place, hobnobbing with politicians and grandstanding in the media,” it said in a statement issued by its.

The body said it deemed it unimaginable and an insult on the Yoruba nation that such kidnap could take place within the ambit of Ondo State where Chief Falae is not only a well known personality but also one of the prominent leaders.

“ARG also observes that many of the high profile kidnappings that occurred in Yorubaland were perpetrated by persons who are not of Yoruba extraction. ARG therefore asks President Buhari to give the issue of internal security the same priority as those of corruption and economy.

“We hope that he will do all he could to solve this onerous problem. However, as development stakeholders in the Nigerian project, Yoruba people have always stood for the need to decentralise the national security framework according to the dictate of True Federalism as opposed to the Unitarian governance model in place.

“ARG reiterates this standpoint, particularly on the wholesome restructuring of our country as it is an inescapable decision that may eventually make or break Nigeria. In the interim however, ARG calls on all Yoruba traditional leaders, monarchs, village heads, and regents to live up to their traditionally accepted role of securing their subjects and domains,” it stated.