By Mardiyyah Abubakar
Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, has raised concerns over the increasing attacks and abductions targeting farmers and other residents across the South-West.
The organisation made the disclosure in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Afenifere said several attacks and abductions occur across Yorubaland and other parts of Nigeria but remain unreported.
The group said its recent visits to Oke-Ogun and the northern parts of Oyo and Ondo states revealed that many residents had abandoned their farms due to insecurity, poor prices for farm produce and the destruction of farmlands through open grazing.
According to Afenifere, farmers now fear kidnapping and ransom demands, while middlemen also reduce their earnings by standing between them and direct buyers.
The organisation cited several recent incidents, including the killing of a female farmer in Ondo State, the abduction of 33-year-old poultry farmer Ooreoluwa Osonuga in Ikenne, Ogun State, the killing of four farmers in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, and the abduction of Debo Farounbi in Ora, Osun State.
Afenifere said Farounbi, who was kidnapped on June 9, 2026, remained in captivity despite the payment of N30m ransom, adding that his abductors had demanded additional money and motorcycles.
The organisation also cited the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, which reportedly said persistent abductions of farmers, farm workers and agribusiness investors across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states had discouraged investment and reduced agricultural productivity.
“Many farmers now abandon their farms due to fear of abduction, ransom demands and violent attacks,” the group stated.
Afenifere further quoted an Ondo State farmer, Eddy Olafeso, as saying that he had abandoned his 10-hectare farm, where he cultivated cassava, cocoa, yam and plantain, because of insecurity.
It also cited Shitu Kabir, President of the Cowpea and Beans Farmers Association of Nigeria and Vice President of the Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association, as saying the production of the commodities had dropped by almost 70 per cent in parts of northern Nigeria.
A former Chairman of the Ondo State Agricultural Commodities Association, Olugbenga Obaweya, also warned that insecurity could threaten food production and increase unemployment by forcing people involved in agriculture-related businesses out of work.
Afenifere warned that continued insecurity could worsen food shortages in the coming months if authorities fail to act quickly.
The organisation, however, commended President Bola Tinubu for directing the preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan within 90 days to strengthen coordination among Nigeria’s defence, intelligence and security agencies.
It also praised security agencies for recently rescuing abducted students and teachers in Oyo and Borno states, urging them to intensify efforts to rescue other victims still in captivity.
Afenifere recommended stronger military operations, tighter border controls, effective community policing and measures to remove the incentives driving kidnapping.
It also called for economic reforms to improve citizens’ purchasing power, reduce the cost of goods and services and address areas it described as “ungoverned spaces.”
The organisation specifically urged South-West governors to strengthen Amotekun pending the establishment of state police.
It called for increased personnel, modern communication equipment, operational vehicles and surveillance drones for Amotekun.
Afenifere also urged the governors to enforce anti-open grazing laws, establish specialised ranger units to patrol forest reserves, integrate local hunters and vigilantes into intelligence-sharing networks, promote modern ranching and establish joint security checkpoints along porous state borders.
