Oyo Assembly Decries Cases of insecurity in Iseyin other areas ; Calls For Security Parley, Patrol of Volatile Areas

The Oyo State House of Assembly has condemned the recent cases of killings, kidnappings and social vices in some parts of the State.

The House at its Thursday plenary expressed concern at the seemingly rise in crimes in some parts of Oyo State.

This came up during a Matter of Urgent Public Importance presented by Hon Bamidele Adeola (Iseyin/Itesiwaju) on the urgent need to take proactive steps to mitigate increase in cases of kidnappings, killings and other social vices in Iseyin and Oyo State at large.

Hon Adeola said Iseyin and its environs had in recent times witnessed serious security threats because of rise in cases of kidnappings.

” Mr. Speaker these horrendous incidents continue unabated. As the last count no fewer than five (5) cases of kidnappings had been reported where the families of the victims paid ransom to secure the release of their loved ones from their abductors. In short, people in the area are now living in palpable fear of who might be the next target.

” For example, in early 2022, one Alhaji wasiu Mamod popularly known as (Megeri) was abducted at his residence at sawmill area Iseyin and a ransom of Sixty Million naira (N 60,000,000.00) was reportedly paid to the abductor by the family. Eventually when the family secured his release after some months, the victim died.

” In the most recent times precisely on may 12th and early June 2023 one Mr. Rahmon Aralamo (a phone repairer) and seller at fire station, Oluwole Iseyin and a poultry farmer at Odo- ogba along Oseyin-Saki Road were victims of kidnapping. According to report in the community, the families paid millions of naira as ransom before they could secure their releases . This is very pathetic because aside from paying ransome the victims are usually subjected to seriuis torture by the kidnappers.

” The Rt. Hon Speaker, distinguished colleagues, you will all agree with me that, this is the experience of the most victims of kidnapping in Nigeria. This calls for serious concern for the constituted authority in the Stated and Nigeria at large.” Hon Bamidele said

He also recalled the recent murder of a renowned University Professor in cold blood around Ojo area of Ibadan, and the killing of a female student of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic by yet to be apprehended assailants.

The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin described some of the recent cases of insecurity in the State as very pathetic, and stressed the need for a synergy of activities among all security agencies.

Other lawmakers harped on the need for security to be beefed up in areas already identified as flash points.

At the end deliberations and contributions, the house resolved to invite the Commissioner of Police, Amotekun Commandant and other heads of security agencies in the State for a security parley and to also brief the House on the State of insecurity in the State with a view to strengthening security architecture of Oyo State under Omituntun 2.0.

It equally urged men of Oyo State Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun which is a local and indigenous security apparatus to collaborate with other security operatives in the area of surveillance and patrol of volatile areas, highways and community forests where the kidnappers use as hideouts to perpetrate their evil plans.

The lawmakers further urged the 10th National Assembly to, as a matter of doctrine of necessity, consider the decentralization of Nigeria security architecture and kick start legislative process of constitutional amendment which will allow for devolution of powers to enable the respective state Government handle security matters in their domain.

They called on the security operatives in Oyo State to re-double their efforts to abate the spate of insecurity and the menace of kidnappings, killings and other crimes across the State.