The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing the formulation of a five-year strategic security and defence plan aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s response to insecurity.

Afenifere gave the commendation in a statement in Ibadan on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi.

The association said the President’s directive for a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan to be developed within 90 days as a welcome development.

According to Afenifere, the initiative would help strengthen coordination among Nigeria’s defence, intelligence and security agencies and provide a more strategic approach to tackling the country’s security challenges.

The organisation, however, called for a combination of robust military action, tighter border controls and effective community policing to address banditry and other forms of insecurity.

It also called for an end to incentives driving kidnapping, while urging communities, security agencies and government authorities to identify and address individuals within their communities who may be aiding or abetting banditry.

Afenifere also advocated economic reforms aimed at improving the purchasing power of the citizens, reducing the rising cost of goods and services and paying greater attention to areas it described as “ungoverned spaces.”

It also called for the swift imposition of stringent sanctions on those arrested and convicted for acts of banditry.

The association, however, expressed concern over what it described as incessant attacks and kidnappings targeting farmers and other innocent citizens across the South-West.

The group said persistent abductions of farmers, farm workers and agribusiness investors in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states had discouraged investment, reduced agricultural productivity and threatened the livelihoods of thousands of farming families.

It noted that many farmers had been forced to abandon their farms because of fears of abduction, ransom demands and violent attacks.

It therefore urged the federal government and security agencies to give greater attention to the protection of farming communities as part of broader efforts to restore security and boost agricultural production.