From March till date no fewer than 8
high profile personalities have been
abducted at different locations in
Akur
Akure, the formerly peaceful capital
of Ondo State has become a den of
kidnappers as residents are abducted
at will with many now living in fear of
who would be the next victims.
In the last two months, at least eight
high profile kidnappings for ransom
occurred n the Ondo capital, a vice
which was initially restricted to and
rampant in the riverine areas of the
state.
From journalists to politicians, the
list of victims has continued to
increase. In most of the cases,
families of the victims had to pay a
ransom before they were set free.
The increased kidnapping has forced
residents to amend their lifestyles so
as not to become victims.
“Because of the growing rate of
kidnapping, I have to stop visiting
beer parlours in the night,” said an
Akure resident and businessman,
Taiye Ilesanmi.
Some cases
On March 23, a journalist working
with Nigerian Television Authority,
Akure, Olubunmi Oke, was kidnapped
by gunmen.
Mrs. Oke was returning home from
work when four gunmen crossed the
path of her car in front of the
Motherless Babies Home on Akure-
Oba-Ile Road and ordered other
occupants out of the vehicle.
She was freed four days later after
her family was said to have paid a
ransom to her abductors.
Barely 24 hours after, another woman,
Kehinde Olusanya, was also
kidnapped at Ayedun quarters of
Akure metropolis.
She was whisked away to an
unknown destination about 1 a.m. on
Saturday, March 25.
Ms. Olusanya is one of the twin
sisters of late Asamo of Akure,
Josiah Olusanya. Her twin sister,
Taiwo, is married to a former
secretary to Ondo State Government,
Fioye Bajowa.
The victim was later released
allegedly after ransom was paid.
In April, a former president of the
Ondo State branch of Master Bakers
Association of Nigeria, 92-year-old
Musa Adisa, popularly known as
“Labaika,” was abducted from his
home in Isolo quarters, Akure, by a
three-man armed gang.
The nonagenarian bread baker was
on his way to observe his early
morning Islamic prayers at a mosque
located about 20 metres from his
home when the gang struck.
He was released days later after the
family allegedly paid an undisclosed
amount of money.
The cases of the others are all
similar with family members
complying with the directives of the
abductors to pay the negotiated
ransom rather than having
confidence in the police to free the
victims. The victims’ family would
however not disclose the amount
they paid as ransom.
Not only Akure
The increased kidnapping is not
limited to the Ondo State capital,
other parts of the state, particularly
the riverine areas, are also affected.
On May 13, gunmen kidnapped the
mother of a former commissioner of
education in Ondo, Remi Olatubora.
The victim was abducted at her
Iyansan country home in the riverside
community of Irele Local Government
Area of the State. She was freed
three days later even as the family
claimed no ransom was paid
although the kidnappers demanded a
N50 million ransom.
Also on May 8, Adenike Ayewamide,
the 40-year-old wife of Tunde
Ayewamide (nickname Doxology), a
former Special Assistant to the Ondo
State Governor on Agriculture, was
kidnapped. She was released days
later by her kidnapers.
Residents express worry
Akure residents believe that both the
government and security agencies
have not done enough to nip the
activities of these kidnappers in the
bud.
Even in the face of series of arrests
made by the police, the residents
express doubt about the readiness of
the security agencies to tackle the
issue headlong.
The State Governor, who recently had
his re-election validated by the
Election Tribunal, would not comment
on the increased kidnapping in the
state capital.
Eni Akinsola, the governor’s
spokesperson, declined comment on
the increasing insecurity in Akure and
other parts of the state.
The Ondo State Police, however, said
it is working had to check kidnapping
and other crimes in Ondo.
The police have arrested and are
currently prosecuting some kidnap
suspects in the state. Wole Ogodo,
the Ondo Police Spokesperson said
the police have made several arrests
and would continue to in order to
check the insecurity in the state.
Some of those being prosecuted are
the five men accused of abducting,
on March 28, the daughter of an
Akure High Chief.
But for residents like Mr. Mr.
Ilesanmi, there is no trust in the
state’s security personnel and
everyone must reschedule his/her
activities for their own security.
“I have to take actions that will help
my security, even if I have to change
my lifestyle,” he said.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/134859-ondo-capital-akure-becomes-den-for-kidnappers.html

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