Several pan-Yoruba groups, under the aegis of the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, have warned that Nigeria is entering a new phase of terrorism, alleging that extremist elements with political backing are intensifying attacks across the country as part of a broader agenda to destabilise democracy.
The groups, under the umbrella of the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, issued the warning in a communiqué at the end of a two-day conference held in Lagos, where they also called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to restructure the country before the 2027 presidential elections.
The communiqué was signed by the General Secretary of AYDM, Popoola Ajayi, alongside Rasaq Arogundade, Taofik Adeyemi, and Alice Asoropa.
They raised serious security concerns, warning that terrorists had entered a new phase of operations in Nigeria, particularly with the introduction of Improvised Explosive Devices.
They cited a recent incident in Kwara State where an Improvised Explosive Device killed a commercial driver and injured a nursing mother and child, describing it as evidence that terrorists were expanding their tactics.
According to them, global tensions, particularly the crisis in the Middle East involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, were also being exploited by extremist elements in Nigeria to intensify terror attacks.
The groups further alleged that political actors and entrenched interests were backing terrorism in the country, claiming that terrorists had economic and ideological sponsors within the political class.
“The current Federal Government is dealing with economic, political, and military wings of terrorism in Nigeria. The terrorists have economic and ideological funders masquerading as elected and unelected politicians and statesmen.
“It is one single scourge to gain power to turn Nigeria into a theocratic fiefdom. They want to destroy the political, cultural, and economic foundations of Nigeria. It is within this vortex that President Bola Tinubu is operating,” the communiqué stated.
The meeting held that there was a campaign of terror being intensified across the country by a set of cabal, politicians who were aggrieved for being shut out of the Tinubu administration.
“The current Federal Government is dealing with economic, political, and military wings of terrorism in Nigeria. The terrorists have economic and ideological funders masquerading as elected and unelected politicians and statesmen.
“It’s one single scourge with the single aim of gaining power to turn Nigeria into a theocratic fiefdom. The problem with the terrorists’ mindset is that they take action without thinking twice. They want to destroy the political, cultural, and economic foundations of Nigeria. It is within this vortex that President Bola Tinubu is operating,” the communiqué read.
To guarantee security, the groups called for the immediate creation of state police and the restructuring of Nigeria’s security architecture, including the decentralisation of military training institutions into regional commands.
Guest speaker at the event, Adewale Adeoye, delivered a lecture titled “Democracy, Peoples Power and Livelihood in the South-West,” where he called on citizens to defend democracy and mobilise for the restructuring of the country.
Furthermore, the AYDM stressed that restructuring remained the most important step to prevent the country from sliding into anarchy.
The communiqué bemoaned killings and attacks in the South-West, alleging that terrorists had killed traditional rulers and planted explosives on highways in recent years.
The groups insisted that restructuring remained the long-term solution to Nigeria’s political and security challenges, stressing that the country must transform into a truly federal and democratic state that reflects its diversity.
“There is no time to waste. This is a historic step that should have been taken more than 50 years ago,” the communiqué added.
The groups also condemned any coup attempt, warning that any attempt to topple democracy will spur an unprecedented crisis.
“The country is witnessing a very tough economic experience characterised by hunger and misery compounded by terrorism. But the solution is not a military coup.
“The agenda of the plotters is to plunge Nigeria into a fascist past, to achieve a designed ethno-extremist religious plan. The plotters have the same agenda as the ravaging terrorists across the country,” the communique read.
They warned that any military intervention could plunge the country into widespread armed resistance, including guerrilla warfare, with devastating consequences for West Africa.
The groups also called for the speedy trial of alleged coup plotters, stating that those found guilty should face the full weight of the law to serve as a deterrent to future coup attempts.
The groups insisted that the next President in 2027 should come from the South, warning that anything short of power rotation could threaten national unity.
“Since 1960, the North has ruled Nigeria for 46 years, while the South has ruled for only 20 years. Any attempt by the North to produce the next President is unacceptable and will be resisted,” the communiqué stated.
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