Hundreds of youths from Isanlu-Isin, Oke-Onigbin, and Edidi communities in Kwara South on Saturday blocked the Ilorin-Omu-Aran-Kabba Highway to protest the rising cases of kidnappings in their areas.
The youths, who carried placards with different inscriptions, mounted bonfires on the highway as early as 8:00 a.m., demanding government intervention to tackle insecurity in the communities.
Some of the placards read: âEnough is Enoughâ, âStop Kidnapping Our Peopleâ, âWe Demand Governmentâs Urgent Interventionâ, âOur People Are Dying in the Hands of Kidnappersâ, âWe Are Tired of Paying Ransom Without Resultsâ.
The protest caused a gridlock on both sides of the highway for hours.
Spokesman for the protesters and Odee of Isanlu-Isin, Chief Michael Ayanda, said the incessant kidnappings had prevented residents from going to their farms and engaging in trading and commercial activities, thereby spreading anxiety and hunger in the communities.
The protesters also decried the non-responsive attitude of security agencies and the government to their plight despite several appeals through letters and visits to police formations and government offices in Ilorin, the state capital.
Ayanda, who spoke to NAN at Eleyin Village, said the protest was aimed at drawing the attention of security agencies and the authorities to the worsening situation.
He alleged that despite ransom payments running into millions of naira, many kidnapped victims had yet to regain their freedom.
According to him, the whereabouts of no fewer than seven members of the communityâs vigilante group, who volunteered to comb the forests to rescue victims, remain unknown.
âWe have paid N30 million for two people kidnapped earlier, but they are yet to be released; the abductors are asking for more money.
âToday, we have paid another N10 million for the release of seven kidnapped community members, but only one person was released.
âThe purpose of this protest is to let the authorities and the world be aware of our plight, especially our government, to assist us to free our people and guarantee the security of lives and property,â he said.
The Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Area, Mr Azeez Yakubu, who addressed the protesters at Eleyin Village near Omu-Aran, appealed for calm and promised to convey their grievances to the appropriate authorities.
Also speaking, the Serikin Fulani of Eleyin Village in Isin LGA, Mallam Ismaila Ahmed, said seven community members were still being held by kidnappers despite ransom payments.
âOur people have become targets of kidnappers in recent times. No fewer than eleven of our people are yet to regain their freedom, and we have paid N20 million so far,â he said.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adekimi Ojo, proved abortive as he did not answer calls.
However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Rafiu Ajakaiye, appealed to the youths to exercise patience, assuring them that the state government was making efforts to curb insecurity across the state.
PUNCH Online reports that the protest comes amid growing concerns over worsening insecurity in Kwara.
In August, gunmen killed a father of five and spread terror in communities across Ifelodun LGA, forcing residents to abandon farms and businesses.
Similarly, troops of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with local hunters arrested eight kidnap suspects and rescued two victims during operations in the state.
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(NAN)
