Local hunters in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State have raised concerns over growing insecurity in parts of the state following alleged threats by suspected bandits to kidnap schoolchildren in several communities.…....
The hunters said the latest threat came barely two weeks after a petrol station manager was abducted in the council area and later released after ransom was paid.
Speaking during an appearance on Ojukoro, a programme aired on Smash 88.1 FM in Abeokuta, the Chairman of the Hunters’ Association in Odeda Local Government Area, identified simply as Festus Ogundairo, said residents were becoming increasingly alarmed by the worsening security situation in the area, according to a video seen by SaharaReporters.
“It is true that these incidents are not happening only in Odeda, but the situation in Odeda is particularly worrisome,” he said in Yoruba.
According to him, the recent kidnapping occurred around a filling station located after a secondary school in the area.
“About two weeks ago, a man was kidnapped in Odeda, around the area beyond the secondary school,” he said.
“He was the manager of a filling station in that area and was abducted around 7 p.m. He was later released after a ransom was paid.”
The hunters’ leader, however, said residents are now increasingly worried over intelligence allegedly circulating on social media indicating that armed bandits were planning to target schools in the local government area.
“But what is becoming more disturbing is what we are seeing on social media platforms, reports that bandits have sent letters threatening to come and kidnap schoolchildren,” he added.
“They even mentioned specific towns and villages within our Odeda Local Government Area.”
According to him, security personnel in the area have already begun efforts to prevent possible attacks.
“Our security personnel have started making efforts to avert such attacks,” he said.
Ogundairo appealed to the Ogun State government and security agencies to support local hunters with equipment and logistics, insisting that they understand the terrain better than outsiders.
“We need bullets and good guns to battle these terrorists,” he stated.
“Even though the law restricts us from carrying sophisticated weapons, the government should at least provide us with the ones we are permitted to use. We are ready to confront these criminals with them.”
He also appealed for motorcycles to aid local security patrols within forests and remote communities.
“We need motorcycles too,” he added.
The hunters maintained that collaboration between local vigilantes and conventional security agencies remains crucial in tackling kidnappings and banditry in rural communities.
“We were born here and we know the terrain well,” the group said, urging the government to allow them work closely with the police and other security agencies to secure the area.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from security authorities regarding the alleged threats against schools and communities in the affected areas.
