Security

Police, OPC, Amotekun Corps, Others, Rescue Kidnap Victims In Osun State

By Web News 1038

Four of the travelers kidnapped at two different locations in Odo-Osun-Imesi and Esa Odo in Obokun Local Government area of Osun State have been rescued.

Radio Nigeria Nigeria learnt that their rescue was made possible by the combined efforts of local hunters, Amotekun Corps, men of the Kiriji Defenders, OPC and the Police.

A security source told Radio Nigeria that four of the six kidnapped victims were rescued during a gun duel that lasted over an hour, at a bush in Ere Ijesa in Obokun Local Government.

During the shootout, one OPC member was reportedly killed while one of the victims sustained injury and three of the kidnappers escaped into the bush with gunshot wounds.

The source explained that only the local hunters and the OPC engaged the kidnappers while the police only provided information as to the location of the criminals among other logistics.

In a telephone interview, the Director General of the Kiriji Heritage Defenders, Dr Ademola Ekundayo confirmed that four of the kidnapped victims had been rescued.

When contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, Mr Olawale Olokode said the operation was conducted by the police, local hunters and the OPC.

Mr Olokode who said one local hunter was shot dead, while three of the kidnappers escaped with gun wounds, added that efforts was on to arrest the kidnappers.

It would be recalled that on Monday, one person was kidnapped at Ede junction in Imesi, while another three were abducted around Osun River in Esa Odo in Obokun local government area of the state.

Adenitan Akinola

Security

Ibarapa unrest: Detained OPC Members Released on Bail

By Web News 600

Oyo state police Command has granted bail to the three members of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, who were being detained over an alleged arson on the residence of a suspected Herder warlord, Isikilu Wakili during which a woman was said to have been burnt to death.

They were released from the police custody at Iyaganku Ibadan at about six o clock this evening.

Their release was sequel to the intervention of the Oyo State government and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams.

The three detained OPC members were released in the presence of Oyo State Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress, Mr Rotimi Oguntunde otherwise known as Olumo, Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Culture and Tourism, Mr Ademola Akeem Ige and a lawyer.

Earlier in an interview with Radio Nigeria,the OPC members, Dauda Kazeem, Ramoni Hazzan and Awodele Adedigba, had denied involvement in an alleged arson on the residence of the suspected herder, Wakili.

They explained that they only apprehended Wakili and three of his men as directed by their Zonal Coordinator and handed them over to the Police for allegedly being in the habit of terrorising the indigenes of Ibarapa area of the state.

In the meantime, over two hundred farmers on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest in Ayete over the security situation in Ibarapa land which they PROTEST IN described as worrisome.

Meanwhile the public police relations officer, oligbenga Fadeyi said Mr Wakili Iskilu and three others are still being detained at the Oyo state criminal investigation department, iyaganku for further interrogation.

Abisola Oluremi

Crime

OPC Apprehends Herdsmen For Allegedly Terrorising Farmers In Ibarapa

By Web News 692

An herdsman alleged to have been terrorizing farmers at Ibarapa area of Oyo State, Iskilu Wakilu has been arrested by some Members of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC.

According to a community leader and secretary to the Farmers Association, Ibarapa Chapter, Mr Taiwo Adeagbo, Wakilu was arrested along with four of his children at Kajola Town.

Mr Adeagbo said the suspects were arrested on Sunday morning barely a week after the Gani Adams led group arrested Wakilu’s deputy and some other members of his gang.

Radio Nigeria gathered that the suspects were taken to Ayete for further interrogation.

Abisola Oluremi

Security

Seven Transport Workers Kidnapped Along Ilesha/Akure Express

By Web News 656

Four Transport Union Workers have been kidnapped at Iwaraja junction along Ilesha/Akure expressway in Oriade Local Government Area, Osun State on Monday night.

Radio Nigeria gathered that seven transport workers were travelling from Osun state to Akure and they were all kidnapped by suspected armed herdsmen.

It was gathered that the kidnappers later freed three of the abductees, a male and two female with an instruction that they should go and source ransom to free the remaining four victims.

A security source said security operatives including Odua People Congress (OPC), Amotekun corps and other security agencies are combing the forest around the Iwaraja junction where the abduction took place to rescue the four remaining victims.

The Police Public Relations officer for Osun State Command did not pick her number for confirmation.

When the Osun State Coordinator of OPC, Prince Deji Aladeshawe was contacted, he confirmed the kidnap.

Also, the Corps Commander of Osun Amotekun, General Bashir Adewinmbi rtd. confirmed the kidnap of the transport workers.

He said efforts are ongoing to ensure that they are released.

Adenitan Akionla

Security

Play your roles properly in the lives of your children – Commissioner charges parents

By Web News 771

Oyo State government has urged youths in the state to desist from violence and restiveness.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Print Media to the governor, Mr Moses Alao indicates that the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Bayo Lawal gave the admonition while speaking with journalists after a stakeholders’ security meeting held at the Ibadan North-East Local Government.

The commissioner noted that the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration remained committed to putting in place policies that would bring about a new lease of life to the state’s teeming youth population.

He said the governor was worried about the gang wars and hoodlums crisis in some parts of Ibadan, noting that he ordered that the meeting be held to determine the immediate and remote causes of the crisis and come up with lasting solutions.

According to the commissioner, hard drugs have been fingered as the major cause of the restiveness, even as he warned parents to rein in their wards by playing their roles properly in their lives.

The stakeholder security meeting which was organized sequel to security breaches by hoodlums and violent gangs in some parts of Ibadan, the state capital, was attended by critical stakeholders in the local government, Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin; Chief Lateef Oyelade, Mogajis, local security outfits such as the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) and Asoludero Guards and heads of security agencies, among others.

Iyabo Adebisi

Crime

18-Year-Old Nabbed By OPC Member For Theft In Ibadan

By Web News 644

An 18-year-old boy, Toheeb Tijani was on Sunday afternoon caught by a member of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress, OPC, while trying to loot a shop at Salvation Army Area in Ibadan.

Tijani who claimed to hails from Popo area of Ibadan said he was scavenging around a shop already burgled adding that his friends led him to the area only to scavenge for waste metals.

Narrating how the arrest went down to Radio Nigeria, the OPC member, Mr Wasiu Ayeka said the suspect with four others had succeeded in burgling an electronic shop when he arrived the scene after a tip off.

Mr Ayeka who said he was assigned to monitor activities in the area said the four robbers engaged him in tough fight but succeeded in arresting Toheeb Tijani who was one of them.

Mr Ayeka who said his success followed training and skills acquired in security and crime fighting said the four robbers would have assassinated him but for his tactics he adopted to arrest toheeb whom he said was the youngest of the four.

He said Toheeb would be taken to their branch office for further interrogation on the whereabouts of the remaining suspects that absconded.

As the time of filing this report, Radio Nigeria observed that the shop owner was not aware of the development while others were trying to put a call through to him.

Rotimi Famakin

Crime

Ado Awaye Shooting: Herdsmen Sue For Peace

By Web News 1939

Two Fulani boys allegedly shot at Ado Awaye last Sunday by a suspected member of Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, are no longer on the danger list at a private hospital in Iseyin.

Police at Ado Awaye had earlier ordered the OPC men believed to be involved in the shooting to take the boys to the hospital for treatment pending further investigation into the matter.

Radio Nigeria gathered that fear gripped the boys on sighting the OPC men who said they were on patrol, making them to start running away before they were shot on the legs.

However, a Fulani chieftain in the community, Jowuro Boni said the incident has confirmed a brewing crisis between his people and some members of the host community because apart from twelve thousand naira, nothing incriminating was found on the boys.

Former chairman of Miyetti Allah in Oyo state, Alhaji Yakubu Bello who noted that such incident was becoming too much in recent times called for peaceful coexistence among the various ethnic groups living in the area.

Efforts to get police comments are still ongoing as at the time of filing this report.

Kayode Oguntona

Politics

Oyo LG, LCDA Chairmen Appeal to Workers over Resumption

By Web News 1075

The tense situation has reduced in some local governments in Ibadan after the power tussle on the leadership of the council.

Our correspondent who has been monitoring the development reports that at Ibadan West Local Council Development Area, LCDA, some party loyalists numbering about fifty were sighted gisting while security operatives mounted the gate.

The caretaker chairman of the LCDA, Mr. Kehinde Akande appealed to the workers to resume duties as there was no longer tension.

  • Deserted offices at the Ibadan North LG

At Ibadan Southwest, some youth corps members were seen everywhere while most of the offices were under lock.

Some of the corps members said they were at the NYSC office at the Local Government Office for their monthly clearance.

The situation at Ibadan North Local Government Office, Agodi was different as the gates were under lock while security operatives including a representative of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC were also on ground to maintain law and order.

Lilian Ibomor

Crime Security

We’re ready to Tackle Insecurity in the Southwest – Aare Gani Adams

By Web News 941

The Aare Onakankanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, says he and members of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, have been putting in place strategies to confront kidnappers and bandits allegedly killing people in the Southwest zone. 

Aare Adams stated this when he paid a condolence visit to Afenifere Leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti who lost his daughter, Funke Olakunrin to highway attack on Ore-Ijebu Ode road.

While speaking with newsmen during the visit in Akure, the Ondo state capital, Aare Gani Adams said based on his petition to the office of the Inspector General of Police few weeks ago, the Nigeria Police was working on strategies on how to tackle the security challenges.

The Aare Onakankanfo also stressed that, there are plans by the OPC to partner state governors in the southwest region as the chief security officers of their states, on how to stamp out banditry and kidnapping on the highways and other black-spots in Yorubaland.

Leke Adegbite