Kunle Adelabu
The security situation in and around Igbe community in Igbogbo/Bayeku and Ijede Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, has raised fears, as two residents were allegedly kidnapped early today.
The victims, whom we gathered are women, were said to have been kidnapped around 10am by unknown gunmen who shot sporadically into the air to scare residents away as they whisked their victims into the swamp.
Another account said that four men armed with Ak47, came in through the swamp and kidnap a person working on his farm.
A man was seen in the video sent to our reporter, and which is now being circulated on some social media platforms, calling our residents on top of his voice to rally round and chase the kidnappers.
He was heard saying that the kidnappers were still in the swamp shooting, before he resigned to fate.
The lgbe community recorded two kidnaping incidents in the last quarter of 2023, and heavy ransome had to be paid before the kidnapped victims were released. The two victims of the ugly incident, Alhaji Tijani Mukaila Bayo and Alhaja Tijani, were kidnapped at Afa, a community between Oreyo and Igbe Laara in Igbogbo, last December, and were whisked away in a boat through the Afa river. They were, however, released about a week later.
Before the couple’s kidnapping, a senior official with the Lagos State Government, was also kidnapped in November 2023, at Igbe Ogunro community which is within the same area.
However, some of the residents of the area, while speaking about today’s incident, said that the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA taskforce team arrived at the scene around 11am.
One Akinyomide Ayotunde, a resident of Igbe community, issuing an alert on the WhatsApp platform, said:
“Incidence of kidnapping has just been reported at Alagemo. 4 armed men with Ak47 came in through the swamp and kidnapped a person working on his farm, those of us near the swamp should be more vigilant, they have come back in full force. Spread the news”.
Meanwhile, residents have been lamenting the incessant kidnapping in the Igbe community.
A resident of Igbe community with WhatsApp registered name – Ibroklyndesigner, speaking on the incident, lamented the insecurity in Igbe community.
“God, what is happening now in this community? Yes, it time for everybody to stand to fight for himself now, because security men cannot have access to this place now. It will be hard for them ooo ,except local security. We need to be on standby day and night”, he said.
Tolulope13, another residents, said:
“This is becoming frequent. The community at large needs to act fast before it gets out of hands”.
In his own contribution, Mayehun1, charged the government to deploy land and air security men to rescue the victims.
“At this juncture, our community should inform Lagos government to use Helicopter to locate these guys. We really need government’s presence on this matter. My opinion”.
Attempts to speak with the Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Builder Sesan Daini on the development proved abortive.
