Scores of protesters, on Tuesday, disrupted both the human and vehicular movements at Jobele end of Ibadan/Oyo expressway in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State as a result of cases of kidnapping, banditry and other vices.
The protest, according to The PUNCH investigation, was due to the invasion of one of the communities in the area.
The protesters said, “Yesterday (Monday), the suspected kidnappers invaded one of our communities in an attempt to abduct a lady. An attempt was made to kidnap a lady but she narrowly escaped by scaling the fence.
“Even though she narrowly escaped, she received a deep matchet cut in one of her hands. This was not the first time that such an incident had happened in the area. We are not going to leave the road until our (residents) safety is guaranteed by the relevant security agencies,” the protesters insisted.
Also, Dolapo Awotunde of Ward 8, in a statement, disclosed that Afijio Local Government, in recent times, has recorded not less than seven kidnapping cases.
The statement read, “It is no longer news that kidnapping has become rampant in Afijio Local Government Area, particularly in Jobele. The community has recorded not less than seven kidnapping-related incidents in recent times, and sadly, another disturbing attack occurred between Saturday night and Sunday morning. During the attack, a victim was brutally wounded by the perpetrators. The victim was rushed to the General Hospital and later referred to Ogbomoso for advanced treatment. Unfortunately, one of his hands has been amputated due to the severity of the injuries sustained.
“Following this disturbing development, concerned residents of Jobele decided to take responsibility for the safety of their community by keeping vigil throughout Sunday night into Monday morning.
At about 1:00 a.m. today, community members apprehended a suspicious individual allegedly found with a gun, a cutlass, and other dangerous weapons. In good faith and as law-abiding citizens, the suspect was handed over to the police at the Jobele Police Station for proper investigation and prosecution.
“However, in a shocking twist, when community members visited the police station this morning to inquire about the suspect, they discovered that the suspect had already been released without any explanation and without involving the members of the community who apprehended him. This development has caused serious outrage and concern among residents. In response, community members, including students, have blocked the Old Oyo–Ibadan Road and the major highway, Ibadan – Oyo – Ogbomoso, demanding to know why the suspect was released and who ordered the release.
“This situation raises serious concerns about the security of lives and property in Jobele and the surrounding communities. We call on the relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Oyo State Police Command, and the Oyo State Government, to urgently investigate this matter and address the growing insecurity in Afijio Local Government Area,” the statement concluded.
When contacted on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said, ‘The Commissioner of Police has sent both the Area Commander and the Divisional Police Officer to the spot to restore normalcy on the road.”
Residents of several communities across Oyo State have in recent months raised concerns over increasing cases of kidnapping and violent attacks, particularly in rural areas and communities located along major highways linking Ibadan to Oyo and Ogbomoso.