Panic As Residents Of Kwara Communities Desert Homes Over Frequent Kidnap Attacks

Widespread panic has taken over Kwara State, according to a report by SaharaReporters.

This is as a result of the daily reports of kidnappings in various areas in the state.

Some residents of Alagbado, Ogidi, Okolowo, and others on the outskirts of Ilorin, the state capital, have reportedly fled their houses as a result of this development.

These communities have been under intense attacks by suspected kidnappers in recent times.

SaharaReporters on Thursday reported that an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) identified as Abdulmumini Yusuf was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Ogidi community.

A resident of the community told SaharaReporters that ASP Abdulmumini was accosted by the gunmen while he was on his way to his house and kidnapped on Monday.

“Nobody has heard of his whereabouts since Monday. But we were told his superiors have been making efforts to rescue him,” the source had added.

Also, unidentified gunmen attacked 16 HOUR hotel and killed the owner, identified as Kayode Akinyemi in Alomilaya neighbourhood in Ganmo community, Kwara State, in August.

SaharaReporters learnt that after killing Akinyemi, aged 47, the attackers abducted one of his friends before leaving.

It was gathered that the gunmen also shot the manager, Emmanuel Olushila Ojo, who was taken to the general hospital in Ilorin for medical treatment after being critically injured.

Two residents of Alagbado; one Alfa Aribidesi and a woman (both traders), were traced to their houses and killed by suspected kidnappers while they were struggling to prevent the abduction of their children.

It was learnt that there have been cases of kidnapping in the area, but the victims' relatives often refuse to report such cases to the police out of fear that their relations may be killed.

In most cases, the victims' relatives raise funds to pay ransoms to the kidnappers in order to secure the release of their loved ones.

The kidnappers, it was learnt, collect a minimum of N500,000 as ransom.

A resident who identified himself as Yusuf told SaharaReporters on Friday that the development had forced at least two of his neighbours to abandon their homes in the community for family houses in the town.

One of the residents who spoke to Leadership said that “most of us have abandoned our houses and relocated to our family houses. Those who have not relocated cannot stay outside beyond 8.00 pm any longer and they are living in fear, hoping for God’s protection.”

The residents have also sent a Save Our Souls (SOS) message to the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

A copy of their letter to the governor, which was pasted on the WhatsApp platform of Ibagun Progressive Union (IPU), Okelele, Ilorin by one Atere Olayinka, reads in part: “The entire Aseyori community, the entire Alubarika community and the entire Aleniboro community Phase II and III, located behind the Specialist Hospital, Alagbado Area of Kwara State, Ilorin are appealing to the Kwara State Government to come to our rescue, the kidnapping and killing is becoming alarming. The bandits still strike yesterday (Wednesday) and went away with two children.

“The entire communities are appealing to the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for assistance on the problem of insecurity in the areas because the entire three communities have been emptied; people have run for their lives, we have left all our properties, we are begging the Kwara State Government to provide maximum security for the entire community.”