By Ghazali Ibrahim 
The Afenifere National Youth Council (AYC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on kidnapping in the Southwestern part of the country.
This urgent appeal comes amidst a disturbing surge in abductions and brutal killings of victims, which have become increasingly rampant across the region.
According to SaharaReporters, Prince Eniola Ojajuni, President of the AYC, wrote a heartfelt letter to the President, sharing his personal experience of being kidnapped and held hostage for 12 days in Akunnu, Ondo State.
He emphasized that the situation has reached a critical point, with criminal elements operating with impunity and spreading fear and chaos among the populace.
Ojajuni noted that Ondo State, once known for its rich agricultural activities, has now become a danger zone where farmers no longer feel safe accessing their farmlands.
He added that criminal elements have turned the state’s forests into ransom negotiation camps, while major roads, especially the Lagos-Abuja expressway, have become death traps for innocent travelers who are kidnapped daily for ransom.
The AYC president recounted his harrowing experience, stating that he was held hostage for 12 agonizing days and nights in the wilderness, without food or clean water. He suffered AK-47 gunshot wounds, bled for days, and received no medical attention.
Ojajuni emphasized that the physical pain was excruciating, and the psychological trauma is still unbearable, with sleepless nights, constant fear, and distressing flashbacks.
Ojajuni appealed to President Tinubu to take decisive action, declaring a total state of emergency on insecurity in the Southwest, especially in Ondo State.
He also urged the President to deploy a special military operation to reclaim forests from kidnappers and criminal elements, strengthen border security to prevent the influx of criminal herders and terrorists, and equip and empower local security agencies, including Amotekun.
Furthermore, the AYC president called on the President to implement long-term security reforms to ensure lasting peace and stability, investigate the flow of ransom payments, and determine where the money is going.
He also urged the President to increase security surveillance in Lagos and Ondo States, particularly in abandoned buildings with high fences and locked gates, and engage youth associations in the fight against insecurity.
Ojajuni emphasized that the Federal Government should mandate all political office holders to hold regular town hall meetings at their local government areas.
He also called on the President to mandate Southwest Governors to collaborate and strengthen security networks, and convene a Southwest Youth Security Summit to address the crisis.
The AYC president noted that from his experience, kidnappers work with youths who have strong ICT knowledge to track and monitor mobile devices.
Some of these individuals are locals who speak Ondo dialects and Yoruba fluently, acting as spies for these criminal elements.
Ojajuni has also written to the Governor of Lagos State, urging him to convene an urgent Southwest Governors’ Forum meeting on security and youth engagement.
However, he emphasized that only a strong federal directive can ensure swift and collective action.
The AYC’s appeal comes as the socioeconomic cost of kidnapping in the Southwest continues to rise, with effects on agricultural activities, road safety, and the overall well-being of citizens. It is essential for the government to take decisive action to address this crisis and ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians.
