By Ahmed Ajikobi
Olla Community in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State, particularly the Onijala family, was thrown into mourning mood yesterday as they woke up to a sad news of the death of their son, Mr. Oni-jay who was violently kidnapped by gunmen few days ago.
Mr Oni-Jay as fondly called, is the younger brother of Amb. Tola Onijala, a PDP Senatorial aspirant from Isin LG.
The dead body of the gentle man was found by local hunters in a thick forest during a forest combing operation embarked upon by the local hunters and vigilante.
Sources close to the family told this medium that the matchete injury sustained during the process of his kidnap must have made him lose too much blood while in forest with his abductors. Horrible pictures obtained showed the victim’s wrist cut off by his abductors before whisking him to unknown destination
The kidnappers were said to have received part payment of ransom and have fled the scene immediately they noticed the victim was dead.
So far, insecurity, banditry, kidnapping, armed robberies have been rampant around Kwara South Region with Kwara State Government and security agencies seem not adequately responding or lack ideas of tackling the menace . Lives and properties of Kwarans are under serious threat as farmers could no longer go to their farms for fear of kidnappers.
In the last three months, more than five incidences of kidnapping and banditry had been reported across Kwara South including kidnapping of families and children of a traditional rulers.
Agamo Compound in Olla Community was sorrow-ridden as Police and Vigilante delivered the remains of the kidnapped, Onijala Adegboyega to his brother, a PDP chieftain in Kwara State, Amb. Tola Onijala who is also a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday.
It was gathered that, the sad news left the friends and family of the deceased crying and wailing.
A source who does not want his name to be mentioned told National Pilot that, the body was delivered to the family at around 8 am in the midst of mammoth crowd and handed over to his brother, Honourable Onijala. He was buried at around 9 am in his brother’s compound at Agamo. It’s a great loss to the family and the community.”
The Kwara State Police Command has however narrated how they recovered the dead body of one Onijala Adegboja ‘m’ aged 56, who was kidnapped on the 19/11/2021 at Olla town in Isin Local Government Area of the State.
In a statement signed by SP Okasanmi Ajayi, Police Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Police Command in Ilorin, the police condoled the people of Olla, adding that concerted efforts were made to rescue the deceased alive.
“The Kwara Police Command wishes to inform the good people of Kwara State on the recovery of the dead body of one Onijala Adegboyega ‘m’ aged 56, who was kidnapped on the 19/11/2021 at Olla town in Isin Local government area of Kwara State.
“The command wishes to express her condolences to the people of Olla in particular and Kwara State in general and to state that every available human and material resources to the command was deployed in the effort to get the deceased rescued alive,
“But unfortunately, the reverse was the case, as he died as a result of the severe injuries to his left hand inflicted on him by the kidnappers in the struggle to subdue him.
“However, when information was received from the team of vigilante and local hunters co-opted into the search for the victim to the effect that his dead body has been found deep inside the bush, and has been handed over to the family by the Police, because of the decomposing condition of the body,
The police spokesperson said that effort is still ongoing to arrest the culprits as we believe some of the criminals must have suffered some gunshot injuries in the course of exchange of gunfire with our men.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police Kwara State Command, CP Tuesday Assayomo, once again commensurate with the family of the deceased.
The police boss further assured the people of Kwara State that the Command will not relent in her effort to see that criminality of any nature and shape are brought down to a minimal level before, during and after the yuletide period in the State.
Also, Kwara South Senator in the 8th Senate, Dr Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim, has commiserated with Ambassador Onijala, his family and the entire people of Isin LGA over the gruesome death of their kinsman, Mr Oni-Jay Onijala in the hands of the kidnappers.
“It is so pathetic and quite unfortunate the incidence of kidnapping and eventual death of the gentle man, Mr Oni-Jay, who was going about his lawful activities in his community before been attacked by unknown gunmen in his community and whisked away to the bush.”
While praying for the repose of the deceased, Senator Rafiu prayed God Almighty grant the family, loved ones and the community the fortitude to bear this painful loss.
Senator Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim, therefore, called for improved security across the seven LGA in Kwara South and in the State in general. He said he was worried by the current wave of insecurity in the State especially within communities in Kwara South where there have been cases of several kidnappings, farmers/herders clash and other social vices. He called on the State Government, under Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities and address the development.
He said people who reside in some of these border communities now live in fear of attack from herders and kidnappers, adding that farmers can no longer go their farms safely and that residents now fear travelling. According to him, this has affected economic activities within that axis and now resulting into death of their people.
The lawmaker who said the primary responsibility of every government is the protection of lives and properties of her citizens, called on the State government to work with security operatives, community leaders and the local vigilantes to keep Kwara South and other parts of the State safe and secure.
Senator Rafiu who commended the efforts of the Nigerian Police and other security outfits in combating crimes, urged them to ensure that criminals are smoked out of Kwara and peace is restored to all troubled areas in the State.
