- Two dead, three abducted as Ondo protesters shun police commissioner
- DPO queried, Inspector detained over Oyo protest
- Aiyedatiwa vows crackdown on kidnappers, says sponsors will not be spared
- Police arrest two Nigerien, 30 other suspected bandits in Kwara
- Afenifere worried over rising cases of kidnapping, banditry in South-West
The Akure/Owo road was, on Tuesday morning, blocked with the corpses of kidnap victims by residents of communities, including Ilu Abo, Kajola and Owode in Akure North Local Government Area of the state, following a fresh kidnapping attack where two persons were shot dead and three others abducted by gunmen.
Angry residents of the communities barricaded the road along Akure airport road, protesting what they termed the insensitivity of the authorities to attend to the incessant abduction and killing of people of the area.
The protesters explained that the gunmen again struck in the early hours of Tuesday, killing two of the victims, while three members of the community were kidnapped.
The protesters, who vowed to occupy the road until the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, visited the area, turned back the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, who visited the community.
They explained that the incidents occurred less than 24 hours after three persons were abducted from their farms to an unknown destination.
They were armed with placards of various inscriptions, including “We Are Dying, Save Our Soul” “Mr. Governor, Please Assist Us” “Our Children Are in Danger and” We Cannot Go to Farms Again.”
The protesters were also seen carrying the corpses of victims, chanting songs and demanding urgent government intervention to address the persistent insecurity around the airport road and adjoining communities.
The residents prevented free flow of traffic, leading to gridlock on the expressway connecting the southern parts of the country with the North, just as they insisted that they would not allow any vehicular movement on the road until the government addressed the situation.
A resident, who spoke with journalists during the protest, said kidnapping incidents had become frequent in the area, accusing the government of failing to take decisive action to protect lives and property.
“We are tired of this situation. Almost every day now, we hear about kidnapping around the airport road. Yesterday [Monday], a council secretary was kidnapped, and today [Tuesday], one person has been killed while three others have been taken away by gunmen.
“The government is not doing anything to protect us. People are living in fear, and many farmers can no longer go to their farms. We cannot continue like this.
“Kidnappers operate freely here, and nobody is safe again. We have reported several times, but nothing has changed. That is why we blocked the road so the government will hear us,” the resident said.
Despite the intervention of the commissioner of police, who persuaded the residents to allow free flow of traffic, the protesters insisted that they would not vacate the road as their lives are in danger every time.
Lawal pleaded with the residents that the security agencies, including the Amotekun Corps and police would ensure the safety of lives and properties, as well as beef up security in the communities.
The police boss also visited the monarch of Ilu-Abo, Oba Olu Falae, and told him that efforts had been made to curb insecurity in the community.
READ ALSO: Ondo govt orders security agencies to crack down on kidnapping syndicates
He said he would deploy additional policemen and tactical units to check the insecurity.
Aiyedatiwa reads Riot Act to abductors, sponsors
Meanwhile, the state governor has vowed to deal decisively with kidnappers and their collaborators in the state, warning that sponsors and godfathers behind criminal activities would not be spared.
The governor stated this during a meeting with stakeholders and leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in his office, where security concerns, particularly the rising cases of kidnapping, were discussed.
Aiyedatiwa, who expressed concern over the resurgence of abductions, noted that one community had been recording kidnapping incidents within the last two months.
He disclosed that security agencies had arrested about 90 suspects in connection with kidnapping and related crimes, adding that some had begun making confessional statements.
“Crime is usually carried out by syndicates, some Fulani, some locals. Some provide information about movements, while others take victims into the forest.
“If investigations trace any criminal activity to anyone, whether they have legitimate business or not, they will be treated like criminals. No godfather, sponsor or collaborator will be spared,” the governor said.
Aiyedatiwa also urged traditional rulers, community leaders and parents to caution youths against engaging in criminal activities.
While speaking on the protest in Ilu-Abo over insecurity, the governor noted that representatives of the landlords’ association earlier met with him and agreements were reached to strengthen security in the area, including the deployment of two police patrol vehicles.
He acknowledged residents’ frustrations, but warned that protests could easily be hijacked by hoodlums, adding: “That is why we always say protest should not be the first line of action. When it is hijacked, other crimes can follow.”
The governor explained that the meeting formed part of ongoing consultations aimed at preventing security threats, revealing that intelligence reports indicated that some criminals displaced from neighbouring states such as Kwara and Kogi might be attempting to move into Ondo State.
He said some suspects reportedly move along cattle routes at night using cattle as cover, but assured that legitimate cattle rearing would not be disrupted, urging herders’ leaders to help identify criminal elements hiding among them.
“We know many of you are doing legitimate business, but you are also in the best position to identify bad elements among your people,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Fulani leaders, the state chairman of MACBAN, Ali Abubakar Maunde, said insecurity was a concern to all stakeholders and stressed that criminal activities should not be blamed solely on Fulani herders.
He said: “There are many people behind these crimes, not just Fulani alone. But we are working day and night to eradicate bad elements among us,”
He added that the association planned to collaborate with security agencies and also proposed the establishment of Fulani vigilante groups to help identify criminals in forests and grazing routes.
Residents storm Ibadan/Oyo road over kidnapping
In a related development, human and vehicular movements were, on Tuesday, disrupted at Jobele end of the Ibadan/Oyo road in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State as people protested over reported cases of kidnapping, banditry and other vices in the area.
The protesters called for the swift intervention of the relevant security agencies.
One of the protesters who did not give his name said: “On Monday, suspected kidnappers invaded one of the communities along the axis and an attempt was made to kidnap a lady, but she narrowly escaped by scaling the fence.
“Even though she narrowly escaped, she received a deep machete cut on one of her hands.
“This was not the first time that such incident would happen in the area.
‘We are not going to leave the road until residents’ safety is guaranteed by relevant security agencies.
Another resident, Dolapo Awotunde, disclosed that Afijio local government, in the recent times, has recorded not less than seven kidnapping incidents.
He said: ‘It is no longer news that kidnapping has become rampant in Afijio Local Government Area, particularly in Jobele. The community has recorded not less than seven kidnapping-related incidents in recent times, and sadly, another disturbing attack occurred between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
“During the attack, a victim was brutally wounded by the perpetrators. The victim was rushed to the General Hospital and later referred to Ogbomoso for advanced treatment. Unfortunately, one of his hands has been amputated due to the severity of the injuries sustained.
“Following this disturbing development, concerned residents of Jobele decided to take responsibility for the safety of their community by keeping vigil throughout Sunday night into Monday morning.
“At about 1 am. today [Tuesday], community members apprehended an individual allegedly found with a gun, cutlass, and other dangerous weapons. In good faith and as law-abiding citizens, the suspect the people handed over to the police at the Jobele Police Station for proper investigation and prosecution.
“However, in a shocking twist, when community members visited the police station this morning {Tuesday] to inquire about the suspect, they discovered that the suspect had been released without any explanation and without involving members of the community who apprehended him.
“This development caused serious outrage and concern among residents. In response, community members, including students, blocked the Old Oyo-Ibadan Road and the Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso road, demanding why the suspect was released and who ordered the release.”
The police have, however, queried the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), as well detained an Inspector over alleged professional conduct in the handling of a reported kidnapping case.
The state commissioner of police has deployed the Area Commander in the area to probe the incident.
The PPRO, Olayinka Ayanlade in a statement, said CP Haruna immediately ordered thorough investigation into the allegation of unprofessional conduct by operatives of the Jobele Division, which reportedly resulted in the protest.
He disclosed that the Assistant Superintendent of Police, who led patrol team involved and the DPO have been issued queries respectively, while the Inspector concerned has been detained pending the outcome of the investigation.
Operatives arrest 32 suspects in Kwara
Meanwhile, 32 suspected bandits linked to kidnapping, cattle rustling, and other violent crimes have been arrested by operatives in Kwara State Police Command and Intelligence Response Team (IRT), eliciting commendation from the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, who was on an operational visit to Kaiama Town in the state.
The arrests were made during sustained intelligence-led operations targeting criminal networks operating within forest corridors and rural communities across the state.
Among the suspects were two foreign nationals from the Niger Republic, said to have been collaborating with local bandit groups in cross-border criminal activities.
The PPRO in the command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, made it known in a statement on Tuesday, that the suspects were apprehended during coordinated raids on criminal hideouts in a joint operation by the Kwara Police and the IRT operatives.
Recovered from the suspects were four AK-47 rifles, 38 rounds of live ammunition, five walkie-talkie communication devices, and a camouflage hydration backpack suspected to have been used by the criminal groups to coordinate attacks and evade security patrols.
The police spokesperson said investigations revealed that the suspects belong to different gangs using forests around Awi, Kaiama, Patigi, Gbugbu, Tsaraji, and Babanla as operational hideouts.
Further investigations also led to the arrest of Umar Mohammed, a suspect from Jos in Plateau State, alleged to have supplied communication devices to bandits, alongside other individuals suspected of providing logistics and support to the criminal network.
Speaking during the visit, the IGP noted that the arrests were the outcome of coordinated operations by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies aimed at dismantling criminal networks operating within forest locations across the region.
He commended the officers for their professionalism and urged residents to continue providing credible information to security agencies.
On his part, the Command’s Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, reaffirmed his commitment to intensifying operations against banditry and restoring safety to affected communities.
Afenifere laments worsening insecurity in S’West
Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, has expressed concern over rising cases of kidnapping and banditry across South-West states.
It noted that the fear of governors abusing the proposed state police structure should not be entertained in any form, and that such thinking should not be a yardstick preventing its establishment.
The national publicity secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, said this while featuring on a public affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese- Ijebu, on Tuesday.
Ajayi noted that the frequency and spread of the attacks have heightened fears among residents of the region.
Source: Tribune
