Kidnappings: Amotekun firms up security in Southwest

• Published date: 16 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The Southwest security outfit, Amotekun Corps, has firmed up security strategies to counter the rising activities of criminals, especially kidnappings, in the zone.

Some of the measures are an intensification of monitoring of crime-prone places like forests and improved collaboration with other security agencies.

Ekiti State Commandant of the Amotekun Corps, Brig. Gen. Joe Komolafe and Osun State Field Commander of the outfit, Amitolu Shittu revealed the measures amid reports on the kidnap of a Catholic cleric in Ekiti State and the threat by abductors to kill the two Osun farmers in their custody.

The farmers were kidnapped along the Ile-Ogbo/Ede Road in Ayedire Local Government Area last week while returning from their farms.

The kidnappers first demanded N250 million, but reduced it to N10 million last Friday. They also gave till yesterday for the ransom to the paid.

A member of the kidnapped farmers' family, who declined to give his name said: 'The abductors are threatening to kill the farmers. We told them we have raised N5 million, but they said the ultimatum they gave us has expired and therefore, they would kill them if we don't raise more money.'

Amotekun Field Commander Shittu, who assured the people of adequate security of lives and property, said: 'My men are on the red alert over the recent kidnappings in the state. We are collaborating with other security to rescue the victims.'

He also asked for logistics support from Governor Ademola Adeleke, to enable members of the outfit to do more.

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Kehinde Adeleke, also promised greater security on farmlands across the state.

Fifty-one-year-old wife of a Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited top shot, Oluwatoyin Ojo, was earlier kidnapped at her residence in the Landero area of Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

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