Lawmakers in the Oyo State House of Assembly have raised concerns over reported insecurity in Oke Ogun geo-political zone, claiming residents now live in fear.
The lawmakers reported that people of the zone have been subjected to incessant kidnapping, worrying that anyone could be the next target.
The lawmakers raised the alarm during plenary on Thursday.
In a matter of urgent public importance motion sponsored by the duo of Bamidele Adeola (Iseyin/Itesiwaju) and Sanjo Onaolapo (Ogbomoso South), Iseyin and its environs have been witnessing serious security threats in recent times.
The duo in the motion titled “Urgent need to take proactive steps to mitigate the persistent increase in cases of kidnapping, killings and other social vices in Iseyin community and Oyo state at large”, explained that residents of Iseyin community have been living their lives in panic and could not sleep with their eyes closed because of the rising cases and spate of kidnapping in the area a few months ago.
They added that in recent times, no fewer than five (5) cases of kidnapping had been reported where the families of the victims paid ransom to secure the release of their loved ones from their abductors.
The lawmakers revealed that many residents of the town have been kidnapped in recent times, Alhaji Wasiu Mamod who was abducted at his residence at the Sawmill area of Iseyin in 2022, Mr. Rahmon Aralamo who was kidnapped in May 2023 and a poultry farmer at Odo- Ogba who was kidnapped along Oseyin-Saki Road in June 2023.
They added that families of the victims paid millions of naira as ransom before the release of their kinsmen.
The duo maintained that the state House of Assembly has a responsibility to rise to the occasion to address the recurring kidnapping and other security vices that have become major challenges to economic prosperity and development in the state.
The lawmakers then urged the security operatives to re-double their efforts to beef up security in the state.
“Aware that in recent times Iseyin and its environs have been witnessing serious security threats. The residents and indigenes of Iseyin community have been living their lives in panic and could not sleep with their eyes closed because of the risen cases and spate of kidnappings in the area a few months ago.
“For example, in early 2022, one Alhaji Wasiu Mamod popularly known as (Megeri) was abducted at his residence, Sawmill area Iseyin and ransom of Sixty Million naira (N60,000,000.00) was reportedly paid to the abductor by the family. Eventually, when the family secured his release after some months, the victim died. In the most recent times precisely on May 12 and early June 2023 one Mr. Rahmon Aralamo (a phone repairer) and a seller at the fire station, Oluwole Iseyin and a poultry farmer at Odo- Ogba along Oseyin-Saki Road were victims of kidnapping.
“It is no news that the University of Ibadan community was thrown into a mourning session recently when a renowned professor was murdered in cold blood around the Ojo area of Ibadan. Similarly, an Eruwa Polytechnic student was also murdered with her two eyes plucked by yet-to-be-identified assailants.
“It now beholds on us as members of the 10th Oyo State House of Assembly to rise to the occasion with our legislative responsibilities to address the recurring kidnapping and other security vices that have become major challenges to economic prosperity and development of Oyo State just like we did in the 9th Assembly under the able leadership of Rt. Hon Debo Ogundoyin.
“Urge the security operatives to re-double their efforts to beef up security in Oyo State to abate the spate of insecurity and the menace of kidnappings in Iseyin community and the State at large so as to nip kidnappings in the bud”.
