Pan Yoruba Socio-political and cultural organisation, Afenifere on Wednesday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to address the state of insecurity and the wanton destruction of lives and properties in the country.
Speaking through its Secretary-General, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, in Akure, the group lamented the rate of kidnapping of prominent Nigerians.
It also described, as worrisome and embarrassing, the Boko Haram menace which it claimed had not only put the lives of people at risk, but also scared away prospective investors.
The group specifically lamented the abduction of the mother of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and the wife of former Governor of Western Region, Gen. Oluwole Rotimi (rtd) by suspected hoodlums.
Arogbofa asked Jonathan “to act as Commander in Chief of Armed Forces and not as a lame duck President by his various reactions to insecurity in the country.”
The group expressed the fears that “criminals may take over the country if the government who is in charge of forces of coercion fails to act decisively.”
It also alleged conspiracy among the criminals and some security agencies in the country.
Arogbofa said, “More than any time, President Jonathan must not only be seen to be barking but biting if criminality is to be brought under control in the country.
“He should show red card to the nation’s security officers in particular the Police, the prisons officials while the Bar and the Bench must no longer toy with or rationalise obvious criminal cases.”
Arogbofa agreed with the submission of Mr. Mamman Tsafe, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, in Abeokuta on Tuesday, that ransom paid to criminals to hasten the release of victims was mainly responsible for the rise in kidnapping.