On the Ibadan-Oyo road, armed gunmen in disguise abduct passengers. Discover the details and implications of this dangerous tactic.
Mr. Asimiyu Alarape, the ex-Speaker of Oyo State House Assembly cautioned residents and drivers using Ibadan-Oyo road due to a string of abductions that occurred on the highway.
Alarape retold a frightening tale told by his fellow resident, who managed to escape from the kidnappers. The neighbor described how a crew of abductors – aided by the driver of a public vehicle – posed as commuters during transit.
Without warning, they halted the bus and proceeded with eight cronies to confiscate all cell phones and cash from their hostages before taking them deep into an impenetrable forest.
Alarape has stated that the Ibadan to Oyo road is now a hotspot for kidnappings. According to him, his neighbor was on board a bus heading towards Oyo when they were intercepted by individuals disguised as passengers who then took them into the forest and confiscated their phones.
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Although three of them including Alarape’s neighbor were eventually released, others in captivity are yet to be traced with fears surrounding their welfare inside this “kidnapper’s den”.
Additionally, he emphasized the bus driver’s participation in the group responsible for kidnapping and urged caution among citizens when traveling on Oyo/Ibadan road. He encouraged individuals to inform their loved ones about potential hazards along this route.
Following the incident, Oba Nureni Akintola Anabi, National President of Soludero Hunters Association urged the state government and Inspector General of Police -Mr. Kayode Egbetokun- to take action. He highlighted that official permission was vital for hunters to search forests and combat kidnappers effectively.
Anabi stated that they have been pressuring the Oyo State Government to grant them authorization, even if no resources are given, in order for them to access the forest.
They have vast experience working within this realm; however, they aim to avoid being exploited as a scapegoat. Without clearance from authorities their efforts may be challenged and scrutinized.
The group is knowledgeable about navigating through such terrain and completing relevant actions accordingly.Once official consent has been granted by those in power,the perpetrators will be expelled from the forests by Anabi’s group,and subsequently held accountable by law enforcement personnel.
The escalating frequency of abductions on this path has sparked noteworthy apprehensions regarding security and the pressing necessity for efficacious strategies to counteract the hazard.
