Residents of Ologede, Mowodani, Idase, Ajelanwa and Imeko in the Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State have lamented rising incidents of kidnapping in their communities.
our News sources revealed that there were four reports of kidnapping in Mowodani in September, while residents foiled an attempted kidnap in the same month.
The residents told our correspondent that the gunmen often attacked the communities during twilight and in the early hours of the morning, making it difficult for people to go about their daily business.
A farmer, Thomas Oluwasise, said he escaped from four kidnappers who blocked his way from his farm in Mowodani.
He said, “I was on my way home around 7pm when four men suddenly emerged from the bush, armed with pump-action rifles. They blocked the road with fallen tree trunks. The people who tried to kidnap me were Fulanis because I saw them clearly.”
Another resident, Jonah Akinremi, said he evaded the kidnappers at Ologede on his way to Mowodani the previous week..
The Baale of Shanka community in Imeko-Afon, Adegbola Olukunle said he had lodged complaints with the police and the Onimeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite.
A security expert, Lt. Col. Folusho Saka (retd) said kidnapping had become a billion-dollar industry in the country, adding that the government and civil societies must be proactive in the fight against the menace.
The Ogun State Amotekun Corps Commander, David Akinremi, told our correspondent that the corps was collaborating with the police to rid the communities of crime.
