Wednesday, March, 11 2026 -Scores of protesters, on Tuesday, disrupted both the human and vehicular movements at Jobele end of Ibadan/Oyo expressway in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State as a result of cases of kidnapping, banditry and other vices.
The protest, according to The PUNCH investigation, was due
to the invasion of one of the communities in the area.
The protesters said, “Yesterday (Monday), the suspected
kidnappers invaded one of our communities in an attempt to abduct a lady. An
attempt was made to kidnap a lady but she narrowly escaped by scaling the
fence.
“Even though she narrowly escaped, she received a deep
matchet cut in one of her hands. This was not the first time that such an
incident had happened in the area. We are not going to leave the road until our
(residents) safety is guaranteed by the relevant security agencies,” the
protesters insisted.
Also, Dolapo Awotunde of Ward 8, in a statement, disclosed
that Afijio Local Government, in recent times, has recorded not less than seven
kidnapping cases.
The statement read, “It is no longer news that kidnapping
has become rampant in Afijio Local Government Area, particularly in Jobele. The
community has recorded not less than seven kidnapping-related incidents in
recent times, and sadly, another disturbing attack occurred between Saturday
night and Sunday morning. During the attack, a victim was brutally wounded by
the perpetrators. The victim was rushed to the General Hospital and later
referred to Ogbomoso for advanced treatment. Unfortunately, one of his hands
has been amputated due to the severity of the injuries sustained.
“Following this disturbing development, concerned residents
of Jobele decided to take responsibility for the safety of their community by
keeping vigil throughout Sunday night into Monday morning.
At about 1:00 a.m. today, community members apprehended a suspicious individual
allegedly found with a gun, a cutlass, and other dangerous weapons. In good
faith and as law-abiding citizens, the suspect was handed over to the police at
the Jobele Police Station for proper investigation and prosecution.
“However, in a shocking twist, when community members
visited the police station this morning to inquire about the suspect, they
discovered that the suspect had already been released without any explanation
and without involving the members of the community who apprehended him. This
development has caused serious outrage and concern among residents. In
response, community members, including students, have blocked the Old
Oyo–Ibadan Road and the major highway, Ibadan – Oyo – Ogbomoso, demanding to
know why the suspect was released and who ordered the release.
“This situation raises serious concerns about the security
of lives and property in Jobele and the surrounding communities. We call on the
relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Oyo State Police
Command, and the Oyo State Government, to urgently investigate this matter and
address the growing insecurity in Afijio Local Government Area,” the statement
concluded.
When contacted on the incident, the state Police Public
Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said, ‘The Commissioner of Police has
sent both the Area Commander and the Divisional Police Officer to the spot to
restore normalcy on the road.”
Residents of several communities across Oyo State have in
recent months raised concerns over increasing cases of kidnapping and violent
attacks, particularly in rural areas and communities located along major
highways linking Ibadan to Oyo and Ogbomoso.
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