Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-Say they apprehended a suspect
-We need good intel from residents – Igbogbo/Bayeku council boss
Residents of Igbe communities in Igbogbo/Bayeku and Ijede Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, on Tuesday took to the streets to protest the incessant kidnappings in their communities.
The kidnappings which have been on for over two years have resulted into seven cases of kidnapping with Igbe Alagemo as the most affected. Three deaths have also been recorded so far.
The recent kidnapping happened two weeks before the Ramadan festival when a man and a young guy were kidnapped and only secured their release days after the payment of N8million.
The protest which started on Monday within the Igbe communities following alleged apprehension of one of the kidnappers, who came out of the swamp to surveil another target, before he was apprehended continued on Tuesday when residents of the communities marched to the Adeboruwa Palace and later to the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA secretariat to registere their concern and called on the traditional head of Igbogbo and the council authorities to come to their aid.
They carried placards with inscription like, “We Don’t Know The Next Victim. We Want Peace”, “Save Our Family From Kidnapping”, “Justice For Alageo”, “Fight Against Insecurity In Alagemo”, “Government Is Meant To Save Lives & Properties”, “Say No To Kidnapping In Alagamo. We Need Justice” and “We Don’t Trust Our Community Heads” among others.
They alleged that the local and the state government failed in keeping to their promises of putting in place measures to safeguard the residents like clearing of the Afa Swamp, and ensuring security presence within the community.
Among the protesters were one of the kidnapped victims, Dare Onipede and another man whose wife lost her pregnancy after he was arrested while he was engaging in vigilante activities with others.
Mr Onikoro, Chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA) in Igbe Alagemo, who led the protest when speaking with our reporters explained what the communities have been experiencing in the last two years in the hands of the dare devil kidnappers.
He said that the protest is to call on the traditional ruler of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, to assist them in charging the government to safeguard their lives.
“We are protesting because of what we are experiencing. We have witnessed seven kidnappings in and around our area. We have a case at Igbe Oloja, another at Afa Swamp and five had happened in our own community which is Igbe Alagemo.
“Each time we record any kidnapping, they usually collect millions as ransom.
“There have been three deaths from these kidnappings and one of the kidnapped victims was eventually killed.
“This thing is becoming rampant and we have been crying to our leaders to help but we found out that they are not helping. So, we felt that we should come to our father who is the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo.
“We are expecting him to charge those that are responsible to give us security to do something about the kidnapping,” the protesting CDA chairman said.
While stating the failure of the government, the CDA chairman also said that the kidnappers usually operate when any festive period is approaching.
“The authorities promised us that they are going to dredge the Afa Swamp to Kapo but there has been no action. They said that they are going to bring a Nigeria Police post to our community and nothing has been done about it. They are only promising but we are not seeing action.
“Unfortunately, these people have turned us into a cash cow and ATM. They usually come towards festive periods. Whenever any festive period is approaching our minds always jump up.
“They came during the December period. Also, close to Itunu Awe (end of Ramadan Fasting). They are now preparing to come for the Easter, that’s why we are protesting to our father before every one of us is taken away from the community.
“People are running away from our community because of these kidnappings.”
Speaking on the apprehension of one suspect, he warned against sweeping the matter under the carpet.
“On Sunday, we caught one of them who came out of the swamp and we handed him over to the Police. After interrogating him, he confessed that they were preparing to come for another kidnapping and it was because he was caught that they didn’t come out to operate again.
“We want the matter not to be swept under the carpet. So, that’s why we are trooping out to protest and let the monarch know what has been happening to us.
“We want them to clear and open up the Afa Swamp down to Ijede so that Marine Police can patrol the axis which is the hub of the kidnappers. This will help to curb their nefarious activities if its done in time,” he advised.
At the Adegboruwa Palace, the Odofin of Igbogbo, Odofin Tajudeen Onasanya, and other chiefs pleaded with the residents and informed them of the community efforts so far made on the matter.
He told them that the community led by the Adeboruwa is not resting at all and not happy about the incessant kidnappings.
The High Chief expressed his reservations as regards the government’s inability to safeguard the lives of residents that they always call on through the traditional rulers to vote during elections.
While assuring the protesters that their concern would be passed on to the appropriate authorities, he also pleaded with THE IMPACT that was covering the protest in ensuring that the reportage get to necessary quarters.
The traditional chiefs also charged residents of Igbe communities to stay vigilant and be their own security.
At the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA secretariat, there was a drama when the protesters approached the council gate and the secretariat’s security shut the gate at them. This led to protest which almost degenerated before the gate was opened and the protesters were allowed to move into the council.
Another drama ensued when the council chairman, Builder Sesan Daini, came down from his office to listen to the protesters with the members of his administration, when he attempted to interrogated the CDA chairman when the leader of the protest was presenting the community’s concern to him.
The matter escalated and was eventually resolved after some minutes.
After the return of calm to the atmosphere, the council boss explained efforts of his administration so far in curbing the insecurity as posed by the kidnappers, adding that such efforts and other details cannot be disclosed because they are security information.
He charged the residents to be security conscious and always at alert because there are moles among them that are feeding the Kidnappers with information.
After engaging the residents, our reporters approached the council boss and he said that a strategic committee with some of the residents would be constituted in tackling the matter.
He also assured that this administration is discussing with the state government in clearing the Afa Swamp which he called a ‘project on its own’.
“We have discussed with them. It’s a top security issue that we have decided not to be discussing publicly. We will select some of their representatives to be part of the strategic team.
“It is not only about Igbe Alagemo, rather it’s around the Igbe communities generally.
“We are looking into it and in talks with the state government to look for permanent solutions.
“It’s not what we are happy with. It’s not what gives us joy and like I have told them, we are going to do it together.
“We need good information from them because it’s obvious that these people stay among them and we need confidential information to get to the root of the matter.
“We are on the Afa Swamp clearing project with the state government. It’s a major project and we need collaboration and support of the state government. We are in talks with them,” the council chairman elaborated.
