Over 50 Kidnappers’ Camps In South West, Act Now Afenifere Tells Govs

Recently freed National Youth President of Afenifere, Eniola Ojajuni has called on the governors of the south west Nigeria to rise up to the threat posed by kidnappers in the region.

According to to him, the clarion call becomes necessary following his recent experience with some kidnappers, where he observed that the criminals have set up various camps across the zone. At least, 55 of such camps now exist across the six south west states, the Afenifre chieftain said.

The magazine reported that Ojajuni was abducted in Ondo state on his way to Abuja, the nation’s capital last month, and held him for 17 days before he was eventually released by the criminals after collecting over N30 ransom from his family.

The kidnappers had earlier demanded N100 million threatening to kill him if the family failed to raise the money.

Speaking during a press conference Ojajuni said the kidnappers have set up camps in forests across Ibilo, Edo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, and Lagos, where they keep their victims, who were either killed or release, whatever they decided.

He urged the governors in the zone to work with youths in the area, by setting up  a Southwest Youth Security Network in collaboration with the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Forest Guards Team to enhance intelligence gathering, which will help in stemming the rising tide of abductions.

He explained that the kidnappers are equipped with AK47 assault rifles and other equipment, including sophistication intelligent gathering tools that make it impossible for security agencies to track them.

He added that he is ready to work with security agencies such as the Nigerian police to help track the criminals, who he said have decided to make the Ijebu-Ode Sagamu expressway as their major base.

“I am ready to provide firsthand intelligence on these kidnappers’ operations, gained during my captivity, to help dismantle their networks.

“They revealed details of their operations along the Sagamu–Ijebu Ode Road weeks before my abduction. If urgent measures are not taken, more innocent lives will be at risk,” he said.

In January, Governor Seyi Makinde revealed that some terrorists have set up camps in Fashola, one of the town in Oke Ogun part of the state, saying the government was on top of the situation.

Also recently, Ondo state have been under constant attacks of terrorists and bandits who set some villages on fire, and killed residents in four communities in the state.