Afenifere raises alarm over kidnappings in Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Kogi, Adamawa, Taraba, Edo

Afenifere raises alarm over kidnappings in Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Kogi, Adamawa, Taraba, Edo

John Okezie

 

IGP, Egbetokun

The apex pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has raised the alarm over the increasing spate of kidnappers in various parts of the country.

Afenifere urged security agencies in Nigeria to come up with strategies to tackle insecurity in the country.

The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi raised the alarm in reaction to the latest reports of kidnap incidents in different parts of the country.

Abeyanews reports that on Friday, March 7, this year, two farmers were kidnapped on their farm in Oba-Ile along Airport Road, Akure North Local Government of Ondo State. The incident was confirmed by the State’s Commandant of Amotekun Corps (the state’s  security outfit), Otunba Adetunji Adeleye.

Abeyanews gathered that the sum of N100 million is being demanded for the release of the two men.

Recall that a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Oba Olu Falae, was similarly kidnapped in the same area some years ago.

Former Kogi State gubernatorial candidate of Action Alliance in the 2023 election, Otunba Olayinka Buraimoh, on Sunday, March 9th, lamented that about 40 communities in Bunu area of the state are under siege of kidnappers.

It was learnt that besides making the people to be afraid of going to their farms, the situation is presently such that “they could no longer sleep peacefully, as criminals now knock on doors to abduct individuals for ransom, while those who cannot pay, face brutal execution.”

He explained that the kidnappers even have the audacity to send notices to communities informing them that they would be coming to pick people up.

On February 24 this year, three people were abducted in Akinyele local government area of Oyo State right in the palace of Agede village’s head, Baale Tajudeen Inaolaji. Luckily, the police with the help of local vigilante outfits, was able to rescue the victims the following day as disclosed by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ACP Muyiwa Adejobi.

Abeyanews gathered that related reports of kidnapping occur regularly in Oke-ogun area of the same Oyo State.

On Monday, March 3rd, a Catholic priest and a seminarian, Rev. Father Phillip Ekeli and Mr. Peter Andrew, were abducted at St. Peter Catholic Church, Ivukwa, Etsako local government area of Edo State. Their abductors are asking for N200 million as ransom. Edo State PPRO confirmed the incident.

Also, on Saturday, March 8th, Adamawa State PPRO, Mr. Sulaiman Nguroje, announced that the state police had arrested a 34-year old Tahamado Demian for the kidnapping of two Catholic priests, Rev. Fathers Abraham Samman of Jalingo Diocese and Mathew Dusami of Yola Diocese. The kidnapper asked for N10 million ransom.

It was learnt that luck ran out of the criminal as he was apprehended when he wanted to pick up the money. The clerics were rescued from the culprit’s house where he (and his accomplices) tied the victims up.

According to Abeyanews findings, it took  the valiant efforts of Ogun State’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit and local security outfits to foil a kidnap attempt at Warewa area on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on February 20, this year.

On February 26th, Taraba Police Command reportedly stormed a notorious forest in Wamunchi dry season rice farm to arrest suspected kidnappers. Several ammunitions were recovered in the process.

The list can be endless.

The National Bureau of Statistics in a survey disclosed that between May 2023 and April 2024, kidnap victims paid N2.23 trillion in ransom to their abductors. Unfortunately, not all the kidnapped victims came back alive – even after money was paid.

The National Co-ordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major-General Adamu Garba Laka, earlier in February this year predicted that “kidnapping for ransom” will reduce considerably this year due in part to the renewed efforts of the (newly created) Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell (MAAKFC).

“Unfortunately, going by reports coming in from different parts of the country now, it is difficult to see how the noble desire of NCTC boss can be met – unless urgent actions are taken. Such actions warrant a change in tactics and orientation”, Afenifere submitted.

Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilfred Afolabi, gave hints as to the reason for the upsurge in criminal activities in the South west and suggested what to do to tackle the challenge.

He said: “There are lots of people migrating, relocating to the Southern part of the country and they are coming in hundreds and thousands. And there is no directive coming from anywhere that this movement should be checked.”

He then promised that if his command is equipped with hi-tech devices, criminal activities would reduce drastically. Among the devices he mentioned were drones, trackers, transportation and ‘other devices for lawful interception’.