Youths from Isanlu-Isin, Oke-Onigbin, and Edidi communities in Kwara South on Saturday barricaded the Ilorin-Omu-Aran-Kabba Highway to protest the increasing cases of kidnapping in their areas.
As early as 8:00 a.m., they blocked the road with bonfires and carried placards demanding urgent government action.
According to The Punch, some of “the placards read: ‘Enough is Enough’, ‘Stop Kidnapping Our People’, ‘We Demand Government’s Urgent Intervention’, ‘Our People Are Dying in the Hands of Kidnappers’, ‘We Are Tired of Paying Ransom Without Results’.”
The demonstration led to heavy traffic on both lanes of the highway for several hours, as protest spokesman and Odee of Isanlu-Isin, Chief Michael Ayanda, explained that constant kidnappings had stopped residents from farming and trading, creating widespread fear and hunger in the affected 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.
Media reports also revealed that Ayanda, while speaking at Eleyin Village, noted that the protest was aimed at drawing the attention of security agencies and the authorities to the worsening situation.
Protesters Decry Ransom Payments, Missing Vigilantes
Ayanda further 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 community’s vigilante group, who volunteered to comb the forests to rescue victims, remain unknown.
“We have paid N30 million for two people kidnapped earlier, but they are yet to be released; the abductors are asking for more money.
“Today, we have paid another N10 million for the release of seven kidnapped community members, but only one person was released.
“The 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,” 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.
“Our 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,” he said.
Efforts to reach the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adekimi Ojo, for comments were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls according to reports.
In his reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaiye, urged the protesting youths to remain patient, assuring them that the state government was already taking steps to address insecurity across Kwara.
