By Oludamisi Ojo.
Former Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Prince Bamgboye Adegoroye, and four others had been reportedly kidnapped by gunmen.
Adegoroye, fondly called SWAGA is one of the top echelons and chieftains of the Southwest Agenda for Tinubu 2023 presidential ambition in Ekiti State.
Speaking with reporters in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, the Chairman, Ifesowapo Local Council Development Areas(LCDAs) of Ekiti State, Mr. Kayode Akerele, said Adegoroye and one other in his vehicle, were kidnapped along Isan-Iludun road on Monday evening.
Akerele said they were seized and taken to an unknown destination around 7.30 pm after being abducted along that route.
He said “We learned that the former local government Chairman and one other occupant of his car was driving along that route when his car was shot suddenly by gunmen who hid inside the bush.
“They had to stop because the gunshot hit their car and it was at that spot that they were abducted and we have not heard whether the family had been contacted”.
In another separate abduction, the Chairman of Ero Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), Mr. Akin Alebiosu, said three charcoal burners, were also kidnapped at Ikun- Ekiti around 6.30 pm the same day.
He revealed that the leader of the Charcoal burners identified as Olu, who is an indigene of Ikun-Ekiti, and other victims were at the Ero River basin for their business when the incident happened.
The duo urged the Police Commissioner in Ekiti State, Mr. Babatunde Mobayo, to beef up security along Ayede-Isan-Iludun- Ikun axis which is gradually becoming a safe haven for criminals in recent times.
The Commandant of Amotekun Corps in Ekiti, Brig. Gen Joe Akomolafe said the outfit is working with other security agencies to rescue the victims.
According to him, Moba, Ilejemeje, and Oye Local Governments axis of Ekiti is becoming a safe haven for abductors, because the councils were where Ekiti has borders with Kwara and Kogi States.
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“My men and other security agencies are inside the forests working hard to rescue the victims. We are after them and we won’t rest until they are freed.
“That axis seems to be unsafe because of our boundaries with Kogi and Kwara States,so immediately the kidnappers grab their victims, within 15 minutes, they would have driven them out of Ekiti and to a terrain that is hilly and difficult to navigate”.
“Another crisis he said they are facing is that the kidnappers have informants among the locals, who gave them information about their movements.
He however said” whatever happens, we are mapping out strategies to checkmate their activities in the areas”.
