By David Fidelis
Fellow Nigerians, warm season greetings to you all. As we all know, 2018 wasn't a smiling year for many Nigerians most especially residents of Ondo State courtesy of insecurity.
2018 was a year that can best be describe as season of Kidnapping in the state mostly for motorists who passes through Akure - Owo - through Ikare - Akoko and Isua - Akoko road as it became notorious for kidnapping, robbery and other illicit activities perpetrated by unknown hoodlums.
Despite the poor condition of the road, the Akure - Owo - Akoko Road is the major road used by motorist coming from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun among others while going to the Federal Capital Territory and other Northern States as well as the Southeastern States thereby making the road busy 24/7.
Sir / Ma, according to media, in 2018 alone no fewer than 25 cases of abduction was recorded on the road as it started from January to December. These victims included, Lecturers, Health Workers, traditional rulers, chiefs, politicians, business tycoons, professionals, students and other helpless citizens.
Richard Adura Ilesanmi of Ondo State Radiovision Corporation ( OSRC ) reported that on Monday, 31st December 2018, a lecturer in the department of Languages, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Dr Mrs Ayodele and other travelers were miraculously saved from kidnappers on the dreaded Akure-Owo expressway. The incident which was perceived to be a robbery attack happened between Uso and Ogbese axis of the road.
Recall that between 10th - 17th December 2018, aside the three kidnapped Staff of the Federal Medical Center, Owo, two Lecturers serving in the State - owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Mr Taiwo Akinyemi and Mr Michael Olopete of Marketing Department were kidnapped, however luck ran against Mr. Taiwo Akinyemi as they made his life Short. Perhaps, he couldn't regained freedom because ransom wasn't provided by his families. He died in the kidnappers’ den just like that.
Pronto, the Governor of Ondo State who hails from Owo paid them a condolence visit, regrettably, since assumption into office in 2017, that was his first visit to the institution located in his home town. Can you just imagine the society we are living? May his soul rest in peace.
In 2018 , former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, was kidnapped in his farm in Ilado, Akure North Local Government; in 2018, former Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Olabimtan; in 2018, former Regent, Akungba - Akoko, Toyin Omosowon was abducted;
Sincerely, the Akure - Owo - Akoko road has become a threat to peace and humanity as motorists plyied the road in perpetual fear and perpetuation as they have no other option.
As I said earlier, the police and other security agencies seems to be restlessness, trying to put a halt to the criminality, however, the act has continued unabated. Perhaps, this is why the Nigeria Bar Association ( NBA) and other pressure groups recently called for the resignation of the state commissioner of Police, CP Gbenga Adeyanju.
Although, State Police Image Maker (Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO ), Pastor Femi Joseph, has been doing his professional job by protecting the image of the State Commissioner. According to him, the fault isn't from the CP, stressing that the Police command has made arrangements to ensure that kidnappers are flushed out of the state.
The Governor of Ondo State, Barr. Rotimi Odunayo Akeredolu must take security as his priority by investing and putting up policies in place in order to put an end to this ugly trend.
The NBA must nail it's earlier statement that no lawyer from Ondo shall henceforth, defend anybody that is accused of kidnapping a fellow citizen. This will go a long way in reducing the menace of kidnapping in our dearest Ondo State.
The 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army should mount surveillance on the road for 24 hours as those check points after Ikare Junction in Owo, the one at the entry of Ikare town and the last one at Isua - Akoko Junction before getting to Akoko Edo, the boundary between Ondo and Edo State isn't enough to compliment the efforts of other security agencies on the road.
Comrade Kenny Ogunkorode, former President, National Association of Mass Communication Students, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic chapter recommends that hoodlum(s) caught in the act of kidnapping and proven guilty by the Court of Law should be publicly castrated, amputated and ultimately executed pointing out that this is the only means that can detter other people from engaging in the bad act.
It's high time the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) and other security agencies swing into action by increasing the patrols of their men on the road in order to prevent further killing of innocent people and breakdown of law and order.
A Chief Lecturer and Former Head, Department of Mass Communication, RUGIPO, Dr. Raman Olaniyan Abubakri recommends that as a matter of urgency, the thick bushes / forests at the right and left sides of Owo - Akure ,Owo-Ifon and Owo-Ikare roads should be cleared up to at least 100 meters both sides from the main roads. The roads should be adequately policed by a combination of policemen, soldiers and men of the 'Civil Defence.
"Government should know that by now this is war. Therefore, air surveillances and airstrikes can't be ruled out. Ground battles by soldiers should complement the air operations if government is really determined to rescue the state from the claws of the terrorists".
According to the Doctor of Communication, if the current 'jelenke' style of police assurance that they are on top of the situation is what we are made to believe, na huge dangerous joke be that ò.
We must not continue like this in this 2019 because security is a key component of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy of Government as enshrined in Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. Hence, the security and welfare of the people should be the priority of government at the local, State and Federal level.
I rest my case, as I say happy new year to you all. I wish you a prosperous New Year.
Fidelis David O. wrote from Akure the Ondo State Capital. fidelisdavid5@gmail.com 07060835375 ( SMS Only ).
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