Fear, apprehension have become two major words to describe how politicians, businessmen and top professionals now live as kidnappers go haywire in Lagos and Ogun states.File photo of militants in Nigeria. They are accused of committing recent crimes in Lagos
In the last one month, according to security information made available to NAIJ.com, there has been at least 10 cases of abduction in Lagos alone.
While some are reported, families of some of the victims, in some cases, decided to handle the situation and pay whatever ransom demanded by the kidnappers. Some politicians, who spoke with our correspondent, said they have been forced to, apart from lie low, become extremely security conscious.
“My brother, nobody can say he is not worried about the situation currently in Lagos. I can tell you that Lagos is no longer safe.
“Everyday, we hear of major crimes that were hitherto alien to us.
“Within the last one week, we have had not less than three major kidnap cases as well as attempted kidnap cases,” a former commissioner in the state noted,” a former commissioner in the state said pleading that he should not be mentioned.
Just a little over a week ago, precisely July 5, an expatriate with Granebury Construction, the firm working on the dualisation of the Epe township expansion project, was kidnapped while on site.
The police immediately commenced a search and rescue effort, but this is yet to yield any success at the time of this report.
Exactly a week ago, gunmen reportedly stormed Ishawo in Ikorodu area of Lagos and abducted Peter Ofulue, an officer with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), and two other residents.
Ofulue, who was earlier kidnapped and released barely a week before the second abduction, was said to be preparing for a thanksgiving in his church to celebrate his freedom when the gunmen struck again.
The kidnappers reportedly stormed the area, shooting to scare away residents.
After about 30 minutes, they left with the victims. This incident has forced many residents to relocate from the area.
He was reportedly cleaning his car for the thanksgiving ceremony of his release when four gunmen stormed the house and forcefully took him away.
His family called on the Lagos state commissioner of police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, to assist in his rescue while many residents have continued to lament the porous security system in the state.
Almost at the same period, gunmen reportedly stormed Ijon community in the Ayobo area of the state and attacked a family.
While Oluwaseun Ogunyemi escaped the eigh gunmen, his wife and three children were not so lucky. They were kidnapped.
However, Ogunyemi contacted the traditional ruler of the community who immediately contacted the divisional police officer of Ayobo police station.
The police was said to have confronted the gunmen for about 45 minutes after which they reportedly abandoned their victims and escaped in their speed boat.
An account director with the state government and his son had also been kidnapped and later released.
On Saturday, 16 July, gunmen stormed Iba community in Lagos and kidnapped Oba Goriola Oseni, the traditional ruler after killing his security guard.
Also abducted, according to reports, were a woman, her three-month-old baby and a businessman. At the time of this report, Kuburat, the wife of the traditional ruler who was shot by the kidnappers is said to have died.
PHOTOS OF KIDNAPPERS
“We are not having funny in the state and we are even confused. We don’t really know what the state government is doing on this,” a politician from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who pleaded to remain anonymous, told NAIJ.com.
Tunji Shelle, factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could not be reached for comment as his phone lines were unreachable.
But the state House of Assembly, at a sitting on Monday, July 18, called for more security of lives and properties in the state.
In a motion moved by Victor Akande from Ojo Constituency 1, the lawmakers described the kidnap of the traditional ruler as shameful.
They also urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to immediately to grant assent to the Neighbourhood Safety Corps bill passed by the House recently as well as mobilise the state police command to man all the strategic joints in the state and ensure the effective use of the current dedicated lines for better security in the state.
In his contribution, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said that the efforts of the state government on security should be recognised, but that it is surprising that the security of the people cannot be guaranteed despite this.
He said: “The state government spent a lot of money to provide equipment for the state police command yet all these are happening. It means what we have done is futile.
“It is shameful and disgraceful if a monarch could be kidnapped in his palace. It is so sad that we lose people to kidnapping and killings everyday.
“People now take to self-help on security in the state.”
Another politician, a legislator, said he had adopted the strategy of remaining conscious and only dealing with people he has engagements with.
“So these days, if I don’t have any reason to see you whether in Abuja or in Lagos anytime I am around, I don’t allow you see me. This is one way to avoid becoming a victim of these boys,” he said.