How Okada rider alerted vigilantes about Igbogbo kidnap in Ikorodu Division 

… Council keeps mum

By Bose Adelaja 

CITIZENS COMPASS —A commercial motorcyclist popularly known as Okada rider was the one who alerted vigilantes and sympathizers about the kidnapping incident at Igbe-Alagemo, Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.

The incident occurred at about 11am in the morning.

Igbe-Alagemo is a boundary between Igbogbo and Ijede in the Ikorodu Division.

Information at Citizens Compass’ disposal revealed that the victim, a woman boarded a bike to the area for site inspection but was kidnapped before the inspection could take place.

It was learnt that some gunmen swooped on the bike to first of all dispossess the rider before marching the woman to the swamp.

Citizens Compass learnt that the Okada rider who escaped the scene by chance ran as far as he could to alert some youths and local vigilantes in the area.

It was also learnt that in a bid to rescue the victim, the youths not minding the repercussions rushed into the swamp unfortunately they did not understand the terrain and an unspecified number of them lost their lives while some  sustained bullet wounds, as the gunmen fired bullets shots at them.

Delayed response

It was gathered that the Police arrived at the scene 40 minutes behind schedule but could not do much as the gunmen had disappeared.

Lamentation

Some residents lamented  lack of technology-based equipment to track the gunmen.

According to them, the gunmen were armed to the teeth while the rescue team had cutlasses and sticks.
Also, they lamented the fact that the Police station is far away from the area.

The Wednesday incident was the fourth within a space of four months.
It was gathered that a team of senior police officers visited the scene on Thursday.,

Citizens Compass had reported that a trending video had surfaced online claiming that two people were reportedly kidnapped.

However, it was later learnt that two people were waylaid but one of them escaped by whiskers while the second was whisked into the swamp.

The video captured a wide-graded road with thick forest in the surroundings while two young men were crying aloud,
“Kidnapping happening right now in Igbe-Alagemo, right now, what’s all these! They have kidnapped two people, shooting. ‘Dem don go far. ‘

Recall that a couple was kidnapped on November 30, 2023, though both have regained their freedom.

It was reported that apprehension enveloped residents and road users along the Igbe-Laara Road, Igbogbo-Baiyeku, following the whereabouts of a couple, Mr and Mrs Tijani, who were said to be kidnapped in the Afa axis of the road.

Igbe-Alagemo is surrounded by a swamp that links neighbouring communities.

The thick swamp is dominated by bamboo settings which makes it look like a forest.

Suspected criminals are said to be taking advantage of the forest to attack the neighbouring communities.
Residents said four kidnapping activities have occurred in the area.

Such activities have led to the kidnapping of a baby and a resident who was on his way from work. His abductors were said to have laid siege in his neighborhood to perpetrate their evil intention when the man drove in to open the gate of his house.

Another was that of Mr and Mrs Tijani on November 30, 2023, and the latest which occurred on Wednesday.

As for the security architecture of Ikorodu, the state government in collaboration with stakeholders launched a Joint Taskforce(JTF) to complement the services of security operatives but the project is said to be underfunded such that operational vehicles and motorcycles that were donated for this course are meant to serve Ikorodu Local Government and five local council development areas.

Moreover, some of those who volunteered to work under the JTF are poorly remunerated and could no longer meet up with the expenses associated with distress calls.

Initially,there used to be a Police check point at  the Afa area on the road but for the END SARS saga.

As at the time of filing this report, the Council Chairman, Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area(LCDA), Olusesan Daini, popularly known as Builder Daini did not respond to calls and messages by Citizens Compass.
Spokesman, Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin did not respond to calls and messages.