Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams has urged Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state and Babajide Sanwoolu of Lagos states to allow the newly inaugurated Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, dependable and the South West Security Stakeholders Group, SSSG to flush kidnappers out of their hideouts along Lagos-Ibadan Express Way.
Kidnappers have stepped up their criminal activities along the express road in recent weeks, as Nigerians demand action from the governments of the three states.
The source magazine reported the kidnap of motorists, including a former vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan last month.
Also this week, suspected Fulani criminals attacked a commercial coastal bus with passengers, injuring many occupants of the vehicle.
Some of the victims later ascribed their escape to the grace of God.
Others Nigerians who spoke vowed not to travel on the ever busy expressway, until the criminals are cleared from the sorrounding bushes and forests.
Adam, by his position as the generalissimo of Yorubaland said his men are now ready to rid the express of criminal elements.
In a statement made available to the magazine signed by his Special Assistant on Media Kehinde Aderemi, the Aare Onakakanfo concern over the incessant attacks on travellers plying the road.
He said since the police had failed to honour the earlier arrangements to provide effective security along the road,it is pertinent to ask the governors to allow the OPC,and Amotekun and other security groups like the Hunters, Vigilante, Agbekoya, COMSAIC, Isokan Oodua under the auspices of the SSSG to get rid of terrorists from the bushes.
Expressing worry at the increasing spate of insecurity along the road, Iba Adams stated further that the only way out of the quagmire is to allow the OPC to face the battle for the restoration of peace along the road.
“There has been an abnormal surge in cases of kidnapping along the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way.
The information at my disposal indicates the surge in the numbers of terrorists and kidnappers hiding at Sapade,a 62. km town to Ibadan.
“Kidnappers are now having a field day, even as it is obvious that the police couldn’t help the prevailing situation.
“The situation is getting out of hand and I believe it is now time for the three governors of Oyo,Ogun and Lagos to allow us flush the bandits out of their hiding place.
“The road is the most strategic road in the south west,we would not allow terrorists to set our region ablaze through constant attacks.
“I want to assure the governors that we will flush out the terrorists from their hideouts within three weeks.
“We can also work with Amotekun to salvage the situation and secure the road and other roads in the south west.
Warning terrorists and bandits to stay away from southwest region, he insists that the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way is a strategic road in the region and he would not fold his arms to see such facility to be taken over by terrorists that have been attacking travellers.
“Lagos-Ibadan Express Way is not Kano-Kaduna or Abuja road that have become havens for terrorists. So,the governors should allow us to rid them of this road”,he said.
