Kidnapping on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: What Lagos, Ogun, Oyo govs should do–Stakeholders

From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan

Worried by incessant armed robbery attacks and kidnapping going on for some weeks now on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, stakeholders have been speaking on what the Federal government, in collaboration with their Ogun and Oyo States counterparts, can do to bring the much-needed sanity to criminals’ exploits on that stretch of the road. They warned that continuous neglect of the criminal activities happening on the expressway is capable of eroding the citizens’ confidence in the government’s ability to rein in the situation. But some spokesmen of the states’ police commands, Ogun and Oyo State governors, and commandants of security outfits like Amotekuns had assured that strategies had been put in place to contain the situation.

Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams suggested sting operations to smoke out criminal elements inhabiting forests in Oyo and Ogun State. He appealed to Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, and Babajide Sanwoolu, of Lagos to allow the newly inaugurated Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) Dependable Team to flush kidnappers out of their hideouts along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

In a public statement that he issued through his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, Aare Adams expressed concern over the incessant attacks on travellers plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. He promised that if given the approval, men of the OPC would flush out the terrorists and kidnappers said to be hiding in Sapade, a town located about 62 kilometres to Ibadan. He said: “I want to assure the governors that we will flush out the terrorists from their hideouts within three weeks. We can also work with Amotekun to salvage the situation and secure the road and other roads in the South West.”

Bishop Taiwo Adelakun of the Victory Church, Oluyole, Ibadan, and former Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) said that whatever security challenges that exist should be sorted out cooperatively between Ogun and Oyo States. Adelakun, Chancellor of Dominion University, Sapade, Ibadan, remarked: “Once the handshake is there, it would be difficult for criminals to come and disappear back to Ogun State.” He also charged the Federal Government to live up to expectation especially now the country is preparing for election.

Ademola Babalola, of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State, said he was quite happy about the report that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Adevowale Williams, went into the bush with his men and with the support of others security agents to free Prof. Agbaje and other victims. He called on the Federal Government to do more to strengthen their capacities.

Dr. Victor Taiwo, leader of Apapo Egbe Alaabo Ile Oodua said that the insecurity on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and other parts of Yorubaland needs a holistic approach. He thanked the South West governors for taking a good step in that direction with the deployment of Amotekun. Fatai Owoseni, Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Security Matters and a retired Commissioner of Police, assured that Oyo and Ogun States already have a joint security architecture that is taking care of the security challenges. He said: “If you go on the expressway now, you would see Amotekun, police and soldiers from both Ogun and Oyo States.  Hunters are also collaborating with us in most of these forests.”

Col. Olayinka Olayanju (ret’d), Commandant of Amotekun Corps in Oyo State, told Saturday Sun: “Go to the expressway now. I can tell you that my men are up to Ogunmakin. I can assure you that up to where we have McPherson University at Ajebo, which is still in Ogun State, my own deployment from Oyo State covers up to that place. There is a filling station in Ajebo area, and if you are coming from Lagos to Ibadan, it is on the right. From that filling station up to under the bridge by the Guru Maharaji, we have our deployment on both sides of the road. We are there 24 hours per day.”

The Police Public Relations Officer for Oyo State Police Command, Mr. Adewale Osifeso, a Superintendent of Police, said the police have been working with other security agencies to ensure adequate protection of lives and property in the state.

Also, in a public statement by Kunle Somorin, Chief Press Secretary to Ogun State governor, Mr Dapo Abiodun, the governor promised that the government would intensify efforts by giving more support to the security agencies to rid the Ogun State corridor of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway of kidnappers and other armed gangs. He disclosed that the security agencies had put in place adequate arrangements in terms of manpower and equipment to confront any security challenge in any part of the state during and after the forthcoming festivities.