PUNCH Metro gathered that suspected
militants attacked Gideon village, Oke Cele
and Asiwaju communities in Ibafo,
unleashing mayhem on residents and
carting away property.
Our correspondent was told that the
militants demanded N50m for the release
of a landlord in Gideon village, identified
only as Joel, who was abducted in his
house.
It was learnt that before the victim was
released, the militants picked another
landlord and Joel’s neighbour, identified as
Lucas.
Lucas was said to have been abducted in
his car and driven to Ebute, where the car
was dumped.
He was ferried away in a boat and had
since been missing.
The gunmen were reported to have invaded
homes and raped married women in front
of their helpless husbands.
Our correspondent was told that on
Tuesday, the militants burgled at least
three houses and carted away goods in
Oke Cele.
Residents and community leaders, who
spoke with our correspondent on condition
of anonymity, lamented that security
agencies could not confront the militants,
calling for military bombardment of the
creeks.
A resident told PUNCH Metro that the
militants usually wrote letters to the
communities before attacking them, adding
that they moved in groups.
He said, “Before any attack, these militants
would write letters and ask residents to
prepare for them. When they get to their
target community, they move in groups of
30s and 50s. They would go from one
house to another, raping young ladies and
beating up young men.”
It was learnt that the hoodlums invaded a
house in Asiwaju community last Thursday
and raped a nursing mother, while her
husband was forced to fan them.
A community leader said while Joel was
kidnapped on July 9, his neighbour, Lucas,
was kidnapped on July 16.
He said, “In Gideon village, two landlords
were kidnapped. The first, Mr. Joel, was
released on Tuesday after 10 days in
captivity. They demanded N50m for his
release; I don’t know how much was paid
after negotiation.
“Lucas was kidnapped last Saturday. He
had not been released since then.”
PUNCH Metro gathered that the militants
struck again on Tuesday when they burgled
three houses in Oke Cele.
“Ibafo is under siege. A policeman told us
that the militants are too powerful for the
security agents and only God can deliver
us,” a resident said.
A police source told PUNCH Metro that the
militants were on the rampage after the
clampdown on their pipeline vandalism
trade.
He added that they always attacked soft
targets whenever they operated.
He said, “Before the Federal Government’s
clampdown on the activities of the
vandals, they always hobnob with the
residents. They eat with them and sleep in
their houses. But after their means of
survival was blocked, they decided to turn
against people in the communities.
“They always look around to see where
there is no heavy security presence. They
attack and retreat into the creek. And it is
difficult for the security agents to reach
them in their fortress because of the
difficult terrain.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun
State, SP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the
kidnap, adding that Joel had been
released.
“We are making efforts to increase
security presence in the area and to
rescue the second victim,” he added.
Punchng
militants attacked Gideon village, Oke Cele
and Asiwaju communities in Ibafo,
unleashing mayhem on residents and
carting away property.
Our correspondent was told that the
militants demanded N50m for the release
of a landlord in Gideon village, identified
only as Joel, who was abducted in his
house.
It was learnt that before the victim was
released, the militants picked another
landlord and Joel’s neighbour, identified as
Lucas.
Lucas was said to have been abducted in
his car and driven to Ebute, where the car
was dumped.
He was ferried away in a boat and had
since been missing.
The gunmen were reported to have invaded
homes and raped married women in front
of their helpless husbands.
Our correspondent was told that on
Tuesday, the militants burgled at least
three houses and carted away goods in
Oke Cele.
Residents and community leaders, who
spoke with our correspondent on condition
of anonymity, lamented that security
agencies could not confront the militants,
calling for military bombardment of the
creeks.
A resident told PUNCH Metro that the
militants usually wrote letters to the
communities before attacking them, adding
that they moved in groups.
He said, “Before any attack, these militants
would write letters and ask residents to
prepare for them. When they get to their
target community, they move in groups of
30s and 50s. They would go from one
house to another, raping young ladies and
beating up young men.”
It was learnt that the hoodlums invaded a
house in Asiwaju community last Thursday
and raped a nursing mother, while her
husband was forced to fan them.
A community leader said while Joel was
kidnapped on July 9, his neighbour, Lucas,
was kidnapped on July 16.
He said, “In Gideon village, two landlords
were kidnapped. The first, Mr. Joel, was
released on Tuesday after 10 days in
captivity. They demanded N50m for his
release; I don’t know how much was paid
after negotiation.
“Lucas was kidnapped last Saturday. He
had not been released since then.”
PUNCH Metro gathered that the militants
struck again on Tuesday when they burgled
three houses in Oke Cele.
“Ibafo is under siege. A policeman told us
that the militants are too powerful for the
security agents and only God can deliver
us,” a resident said.
A police source told PUNCH Metro that the
militants were on the rampage after the
clampdown on their pipeline vandalism
trade.
He added that they always attacked soft
targets whenever they operated.
He said, “Before the Federal Government’s
clampdown on the activities of the
vandals, they always hobnob with the
residents. They eat with them and sleep in
their houses. But after their means of
survival was blocked, they decided to turn
against people in the communities.
“They always look around to see where
there is no heavy security presence. They
attack and retreat into the creek. And it is
difficult for the security agents to reach
them in their fortress because of the
difficult terrain.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun
State, SP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the
kidnap, adding that Joel had been
released.
“We are making efforts to increase
security presence in the area and to
rescue the second victim,” he added.
Punchng
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