Introduction: The first tranche of this series titled ‘’Security Risk Analysis: Kidnapping Hotbeds
in Nigeria (1)’’, summed up data
on reported kidnapping incidents and hotspots across Nigeria. Granted there are
one-off incidents, but research indicates that many kidnapping incidents reoccur
within some geographical swathes, along major highways in Nigeria. The
kidnapping almost always entails an ambush usually at bad portions of the road and usually take place
early in the morning or evenings.
We
can deduce inter-alia that: there is dearth of security in such areas. It is
also safe to extrapolate that the masterminds, foot soldiers of kidnappings in
those climes are not behind bars; they lurk around and it is a matter of time
before they stage their next kidnap and extort ransom. In
his May 28, 2019 piece published on BBC Africa, Nasidi Adamu Yahaya’s piece titled,
‘’How Nigeria and its president are being held to ransom’’, chronicles the
‘booming business of kidnapping for ransom and extortion (KRE) in Nigeria’. Former US ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell argues
in his piece titled, ‘’The Intelligence
Response Team: Nigeria’s Solution To Expanding Wave of Kidnappings’’ that, ‘’Nigerians believe they are in the
midst of a kidnapping wave and that the government is largely powerless to stop
it. Fear of kidnapping appears to be a factor in middle-class emigration from
Nigeria and the wealthy sending their families abroad’’.
Regrettably Nigerian
citizens have been fingered in kidnapping incidents in neighbouring African
countries. On June 4, 2019, two Canadian women, both volunteers with Youth
Challenge International, a Toronto-based international development organization,
were kidnapped
by unidentified gunmen in the country's second largest city, Kumasi. Four
Nigerians were reportedly
arrested in the Canadian girls kidnap. Similarly, three Nigerians were declared wanted over the kidnapping of Mr. Nabil Makram Basbous, the Consular-General
and Head of Mission of Estonia to Ghana in April 2019.
Southwest Nigeria is one of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria
comprising six states – Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Lagos. A 2013 National
Crime Victimization and Safety Survey
conducted by CLEEN Foundation with support from the United States based
Macarthur Foundation shows that the South West had the highest incidents of
kidnapping with 5 per cent of the respondent from the region saying they have
either been kidnapped or attempts have been made to kidnap them. The kidnapping
situation in the southwest bottomed out thereafter but it appears to be relapsing.
From Ekiti to Osun, Lagos to Ondo, Abeokuta to
Ekiti, Ibadan to Osun state, kidnap
for ransom and extortion is currently ravaging parts of southwest Nigeria
especially along inter-town or
inter-state roads. Yoruba
socio-cultural groups such as the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE; the pan-Yoruba
socio-political organization, Afenifere; and prominent citizens - the Aare
Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams and elder statesman, Pa Ayo Adebanjo decried
the wanton, pervasive kidnappings and killings in southwest Nigeria. The Yoruba
Koya Movement declared
June 12, 2019, as a national day of protest against the ongoing killings and
kidnapping across Yoruba-speaking states.
The following inter-state
roads have been identified as kidnapping flashpoints in southwest Nigeria: the
Iwo-Osogbo Road, the Akure-Ilesa Road via Ondo State, Ijebu-Jesa/Esa
Oke/Erio/Aramoko Road from Ekiti State and a number of other deserted roads
within Osun State including Osogbo-Ibokun-Ada Road. Also, cases of kidnap have
been reported recently in Ikirun, Inisa and Okuku communities along the highway
leading to Kwara State. Interestingly, many if not all the
aforesaid states ravaged by kidnapping in the southwest, nay, Nigeria have
stringent anti-kidnapping laws, death sentence for kidnapping, yet kidnapping
persists.
Unmasking existent kidnap
hotspots will enhance security awareness, aid travel security, journey management and planning and ultimately
enhance prevention of kidnapping. It is hoped that
if tweaked, this collation of evidenced kidnap for ransom and extortion (KRE)
hotspots would help contrive a Nigeria crime or kidnapping heat map, which will
ultimately aid crime fighting, and law enforcement. Without much ado, we present kidnapping hotbeds
in southwest Nigeria…
1. Ondo
state: Ondo state
appears to be the ‘kidnap capital of the southwest’. No fewer than 20 kidnappings have reportedly
occurred in the last three months along the Ondo-Auga Road in Akoko. During a
recent Radio/Television programme tagged: “An evening with Mr. Governor”, the
Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State decried the spate of
kidnappings on Nigerian highways and narrated how suspected kidnappers waylaid
his convoy on the Akure-Ibadan Expressway. According to Governor Akeredolu, his
convoy was almost attacked
along the Akure-Ibadan expressway, but his security details shot into the air
to scare the kidnappers, who ran into the bush. Akeredolu was quoted as saying
that 'only VIPs are now safe on our roads'. Barely three days after
the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army (NA) Owena Barracks, Akure,
deployed a drone, Phantom 5DGI to fight the scourge of kidnapping and banditry
within the Ondo and Ekiti States axis, gunmen reportedly waylaid and kidnapped
10 passengers, including the driver of a commercial eighteen-seater bus within
Iju/Itaogbolu axis, along Akure/Ikere Ekiti expressway. Kidnappers take
advantage of the deplorable state of roads in this axis to kidnap motorists. Kidnappers donning police uniforms are said to
operate unhindered
even with the presence of security operatives along the Owo-Oba-Akoko
road and Akure-Owo Expressway, specifically at Amurin Village in Owo
Local Government Area. Apart from the sporadic kidnappings along
Akure-Owo-Akoko roads, there have been reports of robberies and killings on
same route. A medical personnel was
reportedly kidnapped
and a police escort was shot dead after gunmen attacked an ambulance belonging to
the Ondo state Lassa fever intervention program along the Ondo-Owo-Benin expressway on Friday, June 14, 2019.
Recall that
former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and National Chairman of
the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae was kidnapped
from his farm in Ilado, along Igbatoro road, in Akure, the capital city of Ondo
State on September 21, 2015 by suspected Fulani herdsmen on his 77th birthday.
The kidnappers subsequently contacted his family members and demanded a ransom
of N100 million before he would be released from their den. An undisclosed
amount was later paid to secure his release.
Sometime in
May, 2019, three travelers, one of them said to be an official of Dangote Group
of Companies, were kidnapped
along Auga-Ise road in Akoko
Northeast local government area of Ondo state by gunmen. A woman, Olawumi
Adeleye and her stepson, Destiny Paul, were reportedly kidnapped along Airport Road in Osi town
in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State on Sunday, June 9, 2019
at about 5.20pm while they were returning from church. It was gathered that
herdsmen blocked the road with cows, forcing the victims, who were in a Lexus
car to stop along the road. A family source said the kidnappers contacted the
husband of the woman thereafter and demanded N10million ransom.
On
December 14, 2017, four Chinese citizens were reportedly kidnapped by a gang of sea pirates while travelling
onboard a fishing trawler through Ayeton Creek from Lagos to Ogo-oluayo
community, Ilaje local government of Ondo state.
In early
November 2018, five persons including the senatorial candidate for the Ondo
North senatorial district on the platform of African Democratic Congress, Jide
Ipinsagba, and the party chairman, Bisi Ogungbemi, were kidnapped
along Owo-Oba Akoko road amidst a
retinue of bribe-collecting police checkpoints. The victims were fortunate to
be released days later after a huge amount was paid as ransom. Others roads
noted for random kidnapping I Ondo state include: Akure- ljare; Akure-Owo- Oba
Akoko- Akungba; Oka Akoko – lsua Akoko; lpele- Ido Ani; Ondo-Ore; Ondo-Akure
and Akure-Benin.
Intent on arresting
firearms proliferation which seems to encourage kidnapping, the Nigerian Navy
recently destroyed
about 2,829 firearms comprising 2,108 single-barreled rifles, 57 units of
double-barreled rifles, 189 short guns, 187 FN (Fabrique Nationale) rifles, 215
SIG (Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft) rifles and 73 SMGs (sub-machine
guns) seized from repentant militants by the Ondo State Amnesty Programme and
unserviceable weapons of the Navy.
2. Lagos – With
an estimated population
of 21 million in 2016, Lagos is the largest city in Africa. It
follows that Lagos also has its own fair share of security challenges especially
given its geography – seemingly un-policed estuaries, suburb which accords a
getaway to criminals. February 1, 2017, the former governor of Lagos state –
Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode signed an
anti-kidnapping law of Lagos state. The anti-kidnapping law imposes
a penalty of life imprisonment on kidnapping for ransom and also death penalty
where a kidnapping incident leads to death.
The Ikorodu (Ishawo) part of Lagos state
is notorious for kidnapping, cult rivalry, ritual killings (Badoo) and other security challenges. Epe axis of
Lagos state is also another kidnapping hotbed. Both are riverine communities
with a plethora of creeks, estuaries meandering all the way to neighbouring
Ondo state. With the exception of a British citizen who
was reportedly
kidnapped in Victoria Island, Lagos sometime in March, 2013, most kidnapping
incidents in Lagos occur in the mainland, hinterland.
A 60 year old engineer from Phillipine,
Jaime Garcia Lacar recounts
how he was kidnapped and held hostage for a week by four gun wielding youths in
Odongunyan, Ikorodu in Lagos State. He reportedly paid a ransom of N4 million
before he was released.
September 17,
2016, gunmen stormed Channels Avenue in Isheri area of Lagos State and abducted
three landlords at Oshorun Heritage Estate. The area shares a common boundary
with Warewa and Wawa creeks in Ogun State. Recall
that six male students of Igbonla Government College, Epe, Lagos, were abducted from their school premises on May 25, 2017 and were finally
released at Aboto Creek at Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. As recently as April 6,
2019, the Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaki Musibau, and six
others were kidnapped at
Iwoeye bridge at about 8.pm along Ikosi-Ejirin-Epe road in Ikosi-Ejirin Local
Council Development Area, LCDA of Lagos state. Prior to the
kidnapping of the Fire Service boss, the Ikosi-Ejirin council chairman, Mr.
Ajijedidun Samson Adebisi and vice-chairman of Lekki LCDA were also kidnapped
within this axis. Sources say the Ikosi-Ejirin-Epe road had become the new den
for kidnappers lately. Sequel to the recurring criminal
activities within Ikorodu (Ishawo) and Epe axis, the Nigerian Army
established a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Epe with a view
to taming the wanton security challenges prevalent in this area. Similarly, the
FESTAC axis in Lagos used to be notorious for kidnapping during the reign of
billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudi Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans.
3. Ekiti
State: Has its own share of kidnapping challenge, incidents. The
Ikere-Akure Road and communities like Iyemero, Ayede, and Oloje are said to be
kidnap for ransom and extortion hotbeds in Ekiti state. A Catholic priest and
Parish Priest of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Ido-Ekiti, Emmanuel Akingbade
was abducted
from his residence on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 by unknown gunmen at the Ido Ekiti
area of the state. The kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom of N20 million. Kidnapping scaled-down in
Ekiti state during Ayo Fayose’s administration but seems to be resurging now.
In January 2019, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi lamented the rising
spate of kidnapping in the state, disclosing that within seven days, suspected
kidnappers killed one person and abducted five others in different parts of the
state. A former Commissioner for Lands in Ekiti state, Mr. Remi Olorunleke and
the Director of Administration, Gbonyin Local Government Area, Mr. David
Jejelowo, were kidnapped
along Ado-Ijan road. Three persons
were said to have been kidnapped
within two days along the Aramoko-Erio-Efon
road in Ekiti State. The route extends to Osun state border and is said to
be a beehive for criminal activities recent time. Among the abductees are
Ibadan based twins; Kehinde and Taiwo Olowoafara, who had N22m ransom dangled
on their head. Ten persons, including two lecturers of the Ekiti State
University and an 11-year-old boy were kidnapped
from different parts of in Ekiti in April 2019. They were reportedly released
after ransom payments. On January 2, a staff of staff of Emure Local Government
Area, Mr Abayomi Ajayi was killed by unknown gunmen and two of his colleagues,
Pastor A. Onaade, an administrative officer and Dr. O. Fashina, a primary
healthcare official, were kidnapped along Ikere
– Ise – Emure Road while returning to Ado Ekiti.
Barely a week after the
incident, a former Commissioner for Lands, Mr Remi Olorunleke, and the Director
of Administration, Gbonyin Council Area, Mr David Jejelowo, were also abducted
along Ado-Ijan Road by unknown
gunmen. A similar fate befell the Secretary-General of Christs’ School Alumni
Association, Ado Ekiti, Mr. Rufus Oladele who was kidnapped
along Itawure-Efon Alaaye-Erio-Aramoko
Aramoko in Ekiti State. He spent
four days in captivity before regaining freedom. An Obafemi Awolowo University
(OAU) lecturer, Prof. Olayinka Adegbehingbe was abducted at about 6.30pm around
Ikoyi/Apomu junction of the
Ibadan-Ife expressway in Ikire, a
border town between Osun and Oyo states while returning from a journey to
Lagos.
4. Osun
State – Reported
kidnapping hotbeds within Osun state include: Esa-Oke Junction; Iwaraja-Efon
Alaaye; Ile-Ife junction; Iloko Junction; Ipetu-Ile – Ilesha; Ilesha-Ile-Oluji;
Ilesha –Osogbo roads. Sometime in May, 2019, three personnel of the Federal
Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Osun State were abducted by a gang of gunmen
at Erin-Ijesa, along the Akure/Ilesha
highway in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State. Sources said their
families paid about N1.8m in ransom
before they were freed. A staff of the Osun State College of Technology was killed
while trying to escape from kidnappers who laid an ambush for them between Esa-Oke and Ijebu-Jesa. Six of his colleagues and two students were
kidnapped on that fateful day by gunmen.
A traditional
ruler in Atakunkosa West Local Government Area of the state, the Atagunmodi of
Itagunmodi, Oba Michael Famadewa-Kosile, who was kidnapped a few kilometres
from his domain while returning from a ceremony at Ilesa around 9.30 pm on May
30, last year says ''the criminal
activities in his domain could be linked to illegal mining of gold, which he
said is predominantly carried out by the Hausa who are in search of economic
fortune from the discoveries of mineral resources in the area''.
5. OYO STATE:
There are pockets of random kidnap for ransom and
extortion incidents in parts of Oyo state particularly the Oyo Ilorin-Ogbomoso
Road, Atisbo Local Government Area where suspected herdsmen reportedly operate.
Seemingly prevalent in Ibadan, Oyo state is random cases of missing persons and
abduction for money ritual purposes. Motorists are said to have shunned the Ife-Ibadan highway
because of incessant kidnapping, banditry. The
Oyo State Police Command reportedly
arrested 60 persons and recorded 15 kidnapping cases in the last six months. On
Thursday, March 15, 2018, eight passengers were reportedly kidnapped
by gunmen who hijacked a bus on Igboho-Igbeti Road, Oyo State. A source said
the kidnappers emerged from a bush at the Old Oyo National Park and stopped the
bus. It is reported that kidnappers in Oyo state
throng and take their victims to Ogere
and Iwere-Ile forests.
On April 28,
2019, petroleum marketers in Ibarapa axis of Oyo State comprising Lanlate,
Eruwa, Igboora, Idere, Ayete, Tapa and Igangan, under the aegis of Independent
Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), sent a Save our Soul message to the Department of State
Services (DSS) over the persistent kidnapping of their members lately. June 18, 2019, Mr. Dayo
Adewole, son of the immediate past Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, was kidnapped
at gunpoint on his farm located at Iroko, near Fiditi in Afijio Local
Government Area of Oyo State at about 6 p.m.
Talking about
abductions for ritual purposes, on March 22, 2014, a ritual killer’s den popularly
known as Soka was discovered in Soka forest in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo
State, southwestern Nigeria. Over twenty decomposed human bodies and hundreds
of human skulls were reportedly
found dispersed throughout the forest, and over twenty people were rescued from
the forest.
6. Ogun – Like Oyo state, Ogun state seems to have more
cases of abduction or killings for ritual purposes. According to an April 17,
2016 Guardian Newspaper report
titled, ''In Ogun, many ritualists, many questions'', no fewer than ''eight
[ritualist] dens have been uncovered in various parts of Ogun state since
2013''. According to Guardian Newspaper, such dens have been discovered at Iyana-Ilogbo
area near Sango, Idode-Imomo, Ijebu North-East Local Government Area, Iyana
Egbado village in Ewekoro Local Government Area, Adigbe area of Obafemi-Owode
Local Government Area, Lambe area of Akute-Ajuwon, Ifo Local Government Area, along
Itele-Lafenwa Road, Ota, at Abule Oke, Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government Area, at Orile
Eleposo, Ode-Remo area in Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun state. A
self-acclaimed prophet of a white garment church in the Sagamu area of Ogun
State, Kehinde Onayiga was arrested for allegedly killing of a 13-year-old
girl, Anuoluwapo Ajisafe, for ritual purposes. Similarly, sometime in January 26, 2019, assailants suspected to be ritual killers, severed the head of a 41-year-old farmer, one Fidelis Ikpechi, in
Ogere Remo area of Ogun State. On March 13, 2019, 52-year-old Canadian, Kyliuk
Morris was reportedly kidnapped at Fidiwo, in the Obafemi-Owode Local
Government Area of Ogun State. Interestingly, Mr. Morris claims
that policemen in Ogun State assisted him to deliver the N2.5m ransom paid to
his kidnappers to regain his freedom. Years ago, a popular businessman, Alhaji
Safiriyu Araba was kidnapped inside a mosque located opposite his house at
Molipa area of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. The mother of a House of Representatives
member; Abiodun Abudu Balogun, was kidnapped
at her Ita-Otu residence in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area. Reported
kidnapping hotbeds within Ogun state
axis include: Ogun Siun-Ogere; Obafemi-Owode; Abeokuta-Lagos; Abeokuta-Sokoto;
Ilaro-Owode-Idi-Iroko; Odeda-Ogunmakin; Fidiwo-Obafemi; Sagamu-Ogijo-Badary;
and Ijebu Igbo-Oru-Awa. On Tuesday, April 27, 2016, a former Minister of State,
Senator Iyabo Anisulowo and her aide were reportedly kidnapped
along Igbogila road in Ilaro, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun state
while returning from her farm.
Written By:
©Don Okereke is a security analyst,
consultant, a writer, researcher, a subject matter expert and security thought
leader in Nigeria.
July,
2019
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