On Tuesday, Ibadan traditional chieftaincy title holders, also known as Mogajis, solicited the help of governors from South West states in combating abduction.
They stated that the security coordination required to combat the scourge cannot be done without the participation of governors, particularly in Yorubaland.
This event follows previous kidnappings in Oyo State and the murder of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State.
Unknown gunmen kidnapped Philip Aivoji, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Lagos State branch, and many other party officials on Thursday at the Ogere interchange on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Also, two traditional rulers were reportedly kidnapped on Monday in Ekiti State while returning from a meeting in Irele-Ekiti.
According to a statement issued in Ibadan, the state capital, by Mogaji Asimiyu Adepoju Ariori, President of Mogajis of Ibadanland, and Nurudeen Akinade, Coordinator of the Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative, the resurgence of kidnapping and other criminal activities in Nigeria, particularly in the South-West zone, raises serious concerns.
The traditional rulers stated that the recent increase in abduction across the country, which is increasingly enveloping the South-Western region, should be cause for alarm among people.
The Mogajis further stressed that Ibadan as the gateway to other South-West states would not fold its arms and allow the menace to continue.
The chiefs said, “The kidnappers have allegedly taken over some areas in Nigeria, particularly Yorubaland in the last few months. A few days ago, the chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Philip Aivoji was abducted by some yet-to-identified gunmen along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
“Yesterday, two traditional rulers in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State were killed by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers. The two traditional rulers were the Elesun of Esun, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin and Olumojo of Imojo, Oba Samuel Olatunji, while the Alara of Ara-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba escaped from the scene.
“Kidnapping in the last few months was only in Abuja, but now gradually extending to Yorubaland, Ibadan as a gateway to all Yoruba states won’t fold its arm and allow such to persist.
“We kick against the resurgence of criminals, we believe the criminal act has gone with our efforts, particularly the effort of the Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative in collaboration with other security agencies.
“Considering the way we worked in synergy with other security agencies a few years ago, we thought the criminal act had been depleted but we just discovered that it has relapsed.
“We are already in touch with all various community development groups and associations in the southwestern part of Nigeria, various informal groups and societies including but not limited to markets leaders, unions and associations and they are prepared to key in and be part of this all important security movement.
“We implore the government to quickly without further delay fine-tune ways of having security synergy with all volunteers, our hunters’ associations, concerned local security networks, various security operatives, traditional institutions and other relevant stakeholders in Ibadanland, Oyo State and Yorubaland to find solutions to the issue.
“If this is quickly encouraged, it will afford us the opportunity to block all the escape routes in all our cities, towns, and villages including our forests and bushes most of which are considered as ungovernable spaces.
“We can’t successfully engage in this all important security synergy without the support of the governors, most especially in Yorubaland.”
While appreciating all regular security agencies, including Amotekuns, for their commitments and service to the nation, the Mogajis urged the government not to withdraw security agencies from highways and major roads during major events such as road commissioning, as some of these attitudes have been attributed to an increase in kidnappings on these highways.
“It seems insecurity has engulfed the Yorubaland, we need to wake up before it get out of hand.” The statement added.
