Oyo NUJ Decries 25 Kidnappings in 24 Hours
The Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has lamented the increasing cases of kidnapping in the state and described the reported kidnapping of 25 people within the last 24 hours in Ibarapa area of the state as scary.
The Oyo NUJ, in a statement, on Thursday, by its chairman and secretary, Comrades Ademola Babalola and Sola Oladapo, respectively, urged the state government and the state Commissioner of Police, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko, to stem the increasing wave of insecurity.
The Oyo NUJ leaders admonished the police commissioner to relocate to the troubled area in order to restore sanity and confidence for Ibarapa residents.
The NUJ recalled that similar developments, which were witnessed in the area for the better part of 2019 and 2020, heightened recently, noting that these had aggravated the tensed security situation in the area.
The union wrote: “That this madness continues unabated, despite assurances of the security agents, leaves sour taste in the mouth.
“A report says 18 people were kidnapped this (Thursday) morning, while another claimed seven persons were abducted on Wednesday.
“All these call for great concern and serious investigation by a delegation of high-powered police hierarchy, hence the need for the Commissioner of Police to take up the challenge.
“We are alarmed by this ugly development and therefore call on all stakeholders in the security circle, including the Chief Security Officer of the State, Governor Seyi Makinde, to immediately deploy all powers at their disposal to rescue the victims unhurt and bring the perpetrators to book.”