The Oyo State Police Command has blamed the failure of some residents to report suspicious activities for the continued use of a residential building in Oluyole Local Government Area as a hideout by kidnappers.
State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, made the disclosure while leading journalists to a house in Araromi Quarters, Ayegun North, where Mrs. Busayo John-Paul and her twin sons were held captive before being rescued by police operatives.
According to the police chief, preliminary investigations revealed that the building had served as a transit point and detention facility for kidnapped victims on several occasions.
Olugbenga expressed concern that members of the community witnessed suspected kidnappers moving victims into the property but failed to alert security agencies.
“They have been bringing abductees here and people see them. Some residents even exchange pleasantries with them and say, ‘Welcome.’ When such things happen and nobody reports them, it becomes difficult for security agencies to act proactively,” he said.
The commissioner noted that timely intelligence from residents could have enabled security operatives to intervene much earlier and possibly prevent some of the criminal activities linked to the location.
“If suspicious movements and activities had been reported promptly, we would have taken necessary action before the situation escalated,” he added.
He stressed that the fight against kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes cannot be won by security agencies alone, urging citizens to play a more active role in safeguarding their communities.
Olugbenga called on residents across the state to immediately report unusual movements, unfamiliar persons and other suspicious activities to the police and relevant security agencies, describing public cooperation as critical to improving security.
Meanwhile, when asked by journalists whether Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, played any role in the rescue operation, the commissioner said he was not aware of any involvement by the activist.
