Kidnapping: Group raises alarm over worsening insecurity in Kogi East

A community policing group, Kogi East Neighborhood Watch (KENW) has decried the spate of insecurity in Kogi Eastern Senatorial District.

The group, in a statement on Monday by it Director, Public Communication, Wing Commander Iye Ayefu, rtd, accused the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Joel Salifu Oyibo, of watching helplessly while his local government area, Ofu, is taken over by kidnappers.

Parts of the statement read: “Kidnapping occurs on a daily basis in conjunction with the locals who operate in daylight, using military camouflage to deceive commuters plying the road at Ogbakpedo between Okabo and Ochadamu in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

“The last episode of this kidnapping was on the 16th day of May 2024.

“The kidnappers are asking for ransom in millions of naira. A staff of Prince Abubakar Audu University Anyigba who escaped the kidnapping in the area with some gunshot injuries is said to be receiving medical treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja.

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“The State Security Adviser, Commander Omodara rtd, and the Administrator of the Local Government Council are fully informed of the incidents and yet do not seem to have any solution to the kidnapping problem.

“Just a few days ago, kidnappers met some people on their farms around Ochadamu and beat them up with degrees of injuries sustained. The people around Ochadamu are currently unable to embark on any farming activities due to fear of being kidnapped or beaten up on their farms.

“Following this sad development, the Kogi East Neighborhood Watch (KENW) has decided to mobilize stakeholders on security to consider how to deal with the kidnapping menace.

“The Deputy Governor of the State, Hoel Salifu Oyibo, has taken some actions that if sustained is capable of bringing respite to the area.”