A civil society organisation comprising concerned members of the Asa local government area of Kwara state, the Asa Progressives Assembly, has expressed deep concern over the reported rise in cases of kidnapping, banditry, and killings in Pampo village, one of the agrarian communities in the state.
In a statement by the Director of Welfare and Public Orientation of the organisation, Architect Kudirat Olohunoje, the group called on the Kwara state government and security agencies to intervene and rescue the community from the grip of criminal bandits.
The group warned that unless swift action is taken, the area may become desolate, as people are fleeing en masse to escape the violence perpetrated by gunmen who have been operating for some time.
Olohunoje lamented the plight of farmers in the community, many of whom she said had invested millions of naira in commercial farming only to abandon their lands for fear of being kidnapped or killed.
In separate interviews, some residents and elders of Pampo village described the dire situation. “They recounted how dozens of individuals have been abducted, with three people recently kidnapped in nearby Igbaja town. A ransom of N30 million was reportedly demanded for the release of two of the victims. The community also mourns the loss of Lukman Balogun, the commandant of a local vigilante group, who was killed by kidnappers during an attack in September.
“Also, 20 people travelling in three different vehicles from Kwara to Kogi State were abducted by about 10 gunmen along the Osi/Obbo-Aiyegunle road in the Ekiti Local Government Area of the state in August.
In a video clip shown to our correspondents by local residents, a vigilante officer, whose name was not mentioned, narrated how he was shot by kidnappers and left for dead in Isapa community.
In the video, the vigilante was heard saying, “Gunmen, dressed in military camouflage, abducted residents from different parts of the local government every three days.
“Four days ago, they kidnapped 10 people, and yesterday, they kidnapped another 10. They have just found the corpse of one of the kidnapped victims. The police have abandoned us,” he lamented
A resident of Pampo, Mrs Kehinde Olaitan, lamented that the assailants had made life unbearable for people in the area.
“They (kidnappers) have turned this area into a nightmare. Nobody is safe anymore because you can be inside your house, and they will walk in and kidnap you. The government should do something about our situation as the lives of people continue to be lost to these criminal kidnappers.”.
Similarly, Alhaji Abdulqadri Ahmadu, a resident of Pampo, expressed frustration with the unfulfilled promises by law enforcement officers to restore peace in the community.
“Despite the promises made by security agencies, we are yet to see any meaningful improvement. Criminal activities, including the raping of women and farm workers, stealing of farm produce, and maiming, continued unchecked. Many of our people have left the community out of fear,” he said.
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