Kunle Adelabu
Efforts of the Imota Local Council Development Area and security formations to rid the community off activities of criminals, especially kidnappers that have been operating in and around the area, yielded result on Wednesday (yesterday) when two notorious kidnappers were apprehended.
THE IMPACT also gathered that two other suspected kidnappers were allegedly killed during the gun battle that ensued when members of the Police and the Council’s Task Force stormed the forest to launch an attack on the dare – devil criminals.
Sources said that four AK 47 guns, several ammunition and other dangerous weapons were recovered after the successful operation.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Ajibade Bakare Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota, and Hon. Wasiu Agoro, the Chairman, Imota Local Council Development Area, had earlier this year, held a stakeholders’ meeting with the leadership of the Fulani communities in Imota, Agbowa, over the alleged suspicion of their members’ involvement in kidnapping in the area.
At the meeting, the council announced the suspension of hunting and rearing activities in and around Imota area by hunters.
The Imota, Emuren, Agbowa and Odogbolu, which share border, and there environs have allegedly been serving as hideouts for these criminal elements because of the forest surrounding these areas which made it difficult for security agents to penetrate.
The areas also provide easy escape routes for the criminals after perpetrating their criminal acts, before security agents and members of the communities could apprehend them.
Hon. Wasiu Agoro, Chairman, Imota LCDA, confirmed the arrest of the suspected kidnappers to our reporter today.
“Yes, that is true. The operation was handled by the Nigerian Police and our own joint task force team. That is all that I can say for now”, he said.
Attempts to further get more details from security agents in the division did not yield result as some of the top security agents contacted on phone said that they are not aware of the operation.
