The people of Iwere-Ile in Iwajowa Local Government, Area of Oyo State have on Monday. 15th January, 2024 staged a peaceful protest aimed at calling government’s attention to consistent kidnappings, killings and robberies in and outside the ancient town.
The peaceful protest that was conducted under the platform of Iwere-Ile Descendants’ Youth Forum held in order to kick against the rampant kidnappings, killings of innocent souls and robberies among other dastardly acts that are being perpetrated in the community.
While speaking with news men, Comrade Abiodun Falana, Youth Leader for the forum said the peaceful protest was staged at the instance of consistent kidnappings and how government’s immediate attention would be fast tracted to nib the menace in the bud.
He said, about 7:30pm of Sunday, I4th January, a woman named Esther Olawoyin was kidnapped by the suspected and unidentified Fulani Herdsmen, adding that the whole community of Iwere-Ile was in fear and panic throughout of the duration of the woman’s kidnap.
Comrade Falana maintained that, for almost almost 2 years that the case of kidnappings had begun in Iwere-Ile, many people had paid minimum of N2M ransom each to kidnappers in order to ensure their freedom and swiftness from being killed.
He said, the case of kidnappings,killings of innocent souls and robberies had become order of the day, while members and entire residents in the community could no longer sleep with their two eyes closed.
Youth Leader lamented that this case has resorted to crippling of economy, commercial activities, farmers’ fear to visit farms and general panic to all sons and daughters in the community.
Comrade Joseph, secretary to the forum said government had not minded the security of lives and properties of Iwere-Ile town, despite its stance as the headquarters of Iwajowa Local Government.
He sighted instance of recent clashes between Yoruba and Fulani Herdsmen in the community, while Governor Seyi Makinde failed to pay a visit to the place nor send anybody on his behalf.
Comrade Kolaru said,despite intervention of the monarch and the local government and other stakeholders in the community, it was understood that their capacity could neither address nor arrest the situation.
He asked governments and other concerned stakeholders to as a matter of urgency come to their aid and help fight the menace so as to have rest of mind and buoyancy of economic development across the nooks and crannies of the community.
Comrade Adekitan Isaac Adeyemi, a member of the forum had lamented that despite the presence of Anti-Kidnapping Squad in the community, the menace of kidnappings, killings and robberies had become so rampant.
He said the usual payments of ransoms to the kidnappers had kept empowering them to have more weapons and other forms of sophisticated arms to make the outlawed job becomes continual.
He however lamented on shortage of personnel to man the people of the community, adding that it becomes disheartening and worrisome that thirty (30) police officers are manning over 40,000 residents.
Comrade Adeyemi hinted that, over stay of an officer at a duty post should be looked into, maintaining that a police officer using over 15 years at a particular duty post should be redeployed to another place.
The Chairman, Iwajowa Local Government, Hon. Abdul Jeleel Oyinloye said he was on top of the situation and he was still meeting with the security men on how the menace would be addressed
