Lagos: Pan‑Yoruba socio‑political group, Afenifere, has urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently overhaul Nigeria’s security architecture, warning that acts of sabotage are undermining efforts to protect lives and property.
Afenifere, in a statement on Thursday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Jare Ajayi, said that the pattern of attacks suggested sabotage aimed at eroding public confidence in the government.
“The level of insecurity is calling for a thorough overhauling of the country’s security architecture,” Ajayi said.
He noted that sabotage could no longer be ruled out, saying, “high-level complicity, sabotage and attempts to turn the people against the government cannot be ruled out.”
He also attributed the attacks to intelligence leaks and insider collaboration, adding that the sophistication of the operations showed possible insider collusion.
“The sophistication of these attacks shows careful planning by elements versed in military and intelligence operations,” Ajayi said.
He condemned the attack on a Kwara church and the killing of rice farmers in the Edu Local Government Area.
The Afenifere spokesman called for a thorough investigation into the utilisation of the N6.57 trillion defence allocation in the 2025 budget.
He argued that rising violence conflicted with claims of adequate funding.
Ajayi, who advised Tinubu to implement the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy immediately, urged strict enforcement of the Terrorism Prevention Act across all formations.
He called for intensified internal surveillance by DSS and military intelligence while also urging security scrutiny of illegal mining sites nationwide.
The spokesman advised that serving military officers focus strictly on defence duties, while retired veterans should be deployed to support personnel shortages.
He stressed the need to set up state police immediately, with constitutional processes fast-tracked.
Ajayi, who called for regular capacity-building for all security operatives, urged anti-graft agencies to regularly audit defence expenditure.
He cautioned politicians allegedly exploiting insecurity for political gain.
According to him, the government must address the socio-economic pressures that contribute to banditry.