Militants lay siege to Ogun riverine communities, kill 3

Militants lay siege to Ogun riverine communities, kill 3 April 29, 2017 Correspondent Attack businessman, steal N4. 2million Everyday discussion of residents of Ogun riverine communities which was about fishing, farming and families have sadly turned to tales of woes, fear and hopelessness. This state of affair is not unconnected with the invasion of the once peaceful communities by armed militants who have for the past three months laid siege to these communities, attacking and kidnapping residents at will. From car parks to houses, from markets to places of worship, residents’ discussion centres around their sufferings in the hands of the militants. Residents said the militants’ attacks have become a daily occurrence as they have added kidnapping and armed robbery to their heinous crimes. When our correspondent visited the Ogun Waterside Local Government it was observed that residents, though going about their normal activities, are however living in fear. Investigation reveals that communities under the militants’ attacks include Makun-Omi, Ode- Omi, Irokun and Iwopin which are border communities. These communities according to residents have become hideouts for militants since they were dislodged from Ishawo in Lagos State and Arepo in Ogun State. According to the residents, the militants first launched a surprise attack in Makun when on a market day, they stormed the market and opened fire on a Mobile police van. The residents said the policemen returned fire but had to retreat due to the superior firing power of the militants. The Local government Chairman Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, Mr. Femi Onanuga, while narrating how the militants entered the local government area said: “The incident started as a land dispute between Atijere a border community in Ondo State and Makun community in Ogun State. Mobile policemen were deployed to stop the fighting.” A resident who identified himself as Lekan Toba said: “The land dispute led to kidnapping and armed robbery. The militants attacked the mobile policemen and their van on a market day at Makun and went away with a police rifle. They would have killed many people that day but God saved us. “A certain Mrs Shittu was kidnapped at the Abiade Farm settlement and her husband paid N1.2million and she was released after two weeks in captivity. Since that incident, they attacked again and attempted to kidnap a woman known as Iya-tewe also at Abiade community but they did not succeed. Another attack was launched at Makun during the burial of the Oba Odubatun. They killed an illustrious resident that day.” A trader who identified herself as Iya-Ayo said: “I have relocated my children from Makun community. They are living in Ijebu-Ode while I go to market at Makun. Many people have fled Makun. The last time the militants attacked, they shot and killed a father of a new-born, he was trying to make a call to his wife but they thought he was calling the police and they shot him in the head and he died on the spot. Makun is not safe. These militants come from the creeks. They told us they would not attack us but they do not want to see policemen or soldiers. They come to the market to buy recharge cards, garri and other foodstuffs. They attack every day. I only come to the market and as soon I am done selling my fish, I move back to Ijebu-Ode” A commercial driver, Ade Femi, said: “They have turned Makun to their base. They come out at will to buy goods and when they do not have money, they kidnap our members so we can give them money. They said if we can give them N10, 000 every day they would not bother to kidnap us. These militants are ijaws. They have lived with us and were helping us with loading and offloading our wood at the Waterside. They are very familiar with the terrains. Some of our boys have been conscripted into militancy. We are left to face them as the police have abandoned us. Our youth organised to face them but what can they do with old guns when these militants have superior weapons. They told us that they have five camps scattered in the swamps.” It was gathered that the militants also struck at Iwopin last weekend at the home of a businessman and held his family hostage after the businessman fled. A resident who requested anonymity said: “They came fully armed to the residence of the wealthy businessman but he escaped. Seeing that he had escaped, the militants held his family members hostage and threatened to kill them if they did not tell them where the strong room was. As soon as they got the information they needed, they destroyed the strong room and made away with N4. 2 million. They attempted to escape in their car but the community members shut the gate to the community and they ran into the gate. In the process, their vehicle was damaged but they continued to shoot intermittently from dusk till dawn. They hid inside the bush and when some hunters who were coming from an expedition ran into them, they shot and killed three of them. They eventually escaped but the community apprehended one of them who is a resident of the town as he was making efforts to secure another car for them to escape.” Speaking on the rampant militants’ attacks, the Executive Chairman of the Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, Comrade Femi Onanuga urged the Federal and state governments to secure lives and property in the area. He said: “The number one responsibility of government is to secure lives and property. The major means of livelihood is fishing and farming and when people cannot go to where they work for their daily bread then there will be trouble. We are appealing to the government to equip the Marine headquarters at Iwopin so that the officers and men there can function. They should be equipped with gun boats, speedboat and other gadgets. Also the police Unit should be stationed at Makun-Omi, Ode-Omi and Irokun. There is also need for a naval base to curtail the militants’ activities “. When contacted, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police, Superintendent of Police, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the Ogun State Commissioner of Police had deployed policemen to the local government. “Anybody saying that policemen are not in the communities is being economical with the truth. The Commissioner of Police has deployed anti-robbery policemen, anti- kidnapping policemen and plainclothes policemen to these communities,” Oyeyemi said. “When the last attack occurred at Iwopin, our men repelled them and arrested one of them. Their operational vehicle was impounded. We are doing our best but if there is support from other agencies like the military – air force and navy – we will be glad to work with them.” Share this: Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)2Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)2Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)1Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)1Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Like this: Metro and Crimekill 3, Militants lay siege to Ogun riverine communities Post navigation I went into robbery after President Buhari came to power –EngineerACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE: Unintended shootings, undeserved deaths Related posts April 29, 2017 Juliana Francis 0 I went into robbery after President Buhari came to power –Engineer A 26-year-old building engineer, Mr. Benedict Otanwa, has told operatives of the Special Intelligence Response Team... 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