The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged governors in the South-West to urgently strengthen local security outfits as kidnapping and violent crime continue to spread across the region.
The group said security organisations such as Amotekun, the O’dua Peoples Congress (OPC), and other community-based security networks should receive greater support, funding, and manpower to improve their capacity to respond to threats.
In a statement released on Friday, June 5, MURIC Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola, said recent incidents of abduction and insecurity have made it necessary for state governments to act swiftly.
His remarks come amid growing concern over a series of kidnappings in the South-West, including the recent abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers in communities within Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Akintola argued that local security organisations are often the first line of defence and should be equipped accordingly.
“MURIC advises South-West governments to prepare vigilante groups as first responders. Groups like the Oduduwa Peoples Congress (OPC) and Iru Ekun should be empowered in order to halt the advance of bandits.
“More personnel should be recruited into the Amotekun Corps for effectiveness.”
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The Islamic rights group also encouraged residents of the region to remain resolute in confronting criminal activities rather than surrendering to fear.
Addressing Muslim communities, Akintola cited passages from the Qur’an as encouragement in the fight against insecurity.
“MURIC charges Yoruba Muslims to take inspiration from the Glorious Qur’an on the need to confront bandits.
“In a rare manifestation of battlefield emboldment, the Glorious Qur’an assured us that our enemies are mere mortals who feel what we feel. They also can sustain injuries and feel pain just as you can sustain injuries and feel pain (3:140).
”Embolding us further, the Glorious Qur’an says, ‘And do not weaken in pursuing the enemy. If you are suffering, they are suffering as you are suffering; but you hope from Allah that which they do not hope for. And Allah is Ever-Knowing, All-Wise.’ (4:104)”
Akintola also appealed to Christians in the South-West to adopt a similar commitment towards resisting criminal elements.
“We encourage Yoruba Christians to replicate this approach to criminality in the region. Bandits have a field day when we turn and run. But they don’t like confrontation.
“We must therefore meet their force with force, bullet for bullet, stratagem for stratagem. There must be balance of terror if we are going to succeed in stopping these hoodlums,” MURIC said in the statement.
The group maintained that strengthening local security networks remains one of the most practical steps available to state governments in addressing the growing security challenges facing the region.