By Our Correspondent
Uneasy calm now pervades some parts of the Kwara South Senatorial District as armed men, particularly kidnappers have been on rampage for some time now.
Victims who come across them by accident are either killed or maimed even where and when ransoms are demanded and paid depending on mother luck.
Despite the efforts of the community leaders, local vigilante and the state police force to stem the tide, it has continued unabated to the chagrin of the affected communities in the Kwara South.
Only last Sunday, September 3,2023, a staff of the Custodial Correctional Centre, in Omu-Aran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government of Kwara state was murdered by suspected armed men.
The staff, identified as Lekan Awe, was allegedly killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen according to findings by our correspondent.
Family sources informed that he was reportedly killed within the Obbo-Aiyegunle axis in Ekiti Local Government of the state.
The latest killing has increased the tally of innocent victims who fell into the hands of yet-to-be-identified gunmen and kidnappers in Ifelodun, Ekiti, Osi Local Government Areas, all located in Kwara South of the state in recent times.
Again on Sunday, a businesswoman, Alabi Sikirat Titilope was slaughtered at midnight by armed men at her house in Agbeku, Agunji district of Ifelodun local government, and her motorcycle was carted away.
Her daughter, Alabi Sakirat discovered her mother’s lifeless body in a pool of her blood when she visited the house at about 08.30 am on the fateful Sunday.
Police authorities said some suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident which was also confirmed by the monarch of the community, Oba Abdulazeez Shola Agboola.
At least four suspects are in police custody helping in the investigation into the matter.
The monarch, described the gruesome murder which has thrown the people into mourning as the first to be recorded in the history of the community.
In the first week of August this year, specifically August 2,2023, a bloody attack was also launched on former Senator Simeon Suleiman Ajibola’s farm at Isapa town in Ekiti local government of the state by armed kidnappers.
His brother, Biodun Ajibola said to be the farm supervisor, was killed in the attack by the suspected kidnappers, while the Senator’s driver attached to the late supervisor was seriously injured.
In the same month, August 13,2023, the wife of Pastor Johnson Ajiboye, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Mrs Bola Ajiboye, was attacked by gunmen in her house at Elerinjare, near Idofian, in Ifelodun local government.
She was abducted and later released after days in captivity and payment of the N1m ransom demanded by the kidnappers alongside foodstuffs.
The bearer of the ransom, also a pastor, named Oladipo who went to deliver the ransom and the foodstuffs was detained by the kidnappers who demanded N5m ransom, though he was later set free, even as it could not be ascertained if the ransom was paid for his freedom.
The masterminds of the Pastor’s wife and pastor Oladipo’s abduction incidents, were however, not that lucky, as the suspected kingpin of the syndicate was reportedly killed and five other members were arrested when a combined team of vigilante and police operatives stormed their hideout within Elerinjare community.
The state police command’s spokesman, Okasanmi Ajayi, also confirmed that some suspects were arrested on the incident but could not yet identify them as the perpetrators of the alleged Elerinjare kidnap act.
All the arrested members were said to be young Fulani indigenes, according to the people of the community who apprehended them.
In a related development still in Ifelodun local government area at Abayan town, also in Kwara South, two sons were reportedly shot dead in the attempt to rescue their father who was ambushed by suspected kidnappers who invaded the community last month.
The two sons paid the supreme price but their father escaped from the scene of the incident unhurt.
