Residents of Igbe Alagemo in the Igbogbo Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu have raised the alarm over reported kidnappings and killings in the community.
This was made known during a Save Our Soul protest held on Tuesday at the council secretariat and the palace of the monarch in the community.
The residents, who took turns to speak during the protest, lamented that the incident was a recurring one, altering their social and economic lives.
One of the protesters, Bidemi Egbetemi, said she relocated to the area in January and was considering leaving due to the situation in the community.
She said, “I came to Igbe Alagemo in January. The situation in our community now is one of fear and agony. People are leaving the community, and I am considering doing the same if this situation persists.
“I am appealing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to look into our case and save us from the kidnappers who have turned our community into their haven.”
Another resident, Isiaka Abiola, said the kidnapping cases have become rampant since December 2024, adding that in four months, the community had recorded over seven cases of kidnapping.
“The kidnappers usually come in the night, and they pass through the Creek. We appeal to the Lagos State government to come and clear the Creek for us and engage the Navy or Marine officers, as was done in Majidun, where they are stationed. With that, I think the kidnapping will reduce, and we will continue to live in peace,” he said.
The chairman of the community, Obafemi Onikoro, said the protest became inevitable as many of the residents of Igbe Alagemo have fled their homes as a result of the incidents.
Onikoro further disclosed that the leadership of the community has engaged in grassroots surveillance to curb the rising spate of insecurity in the area, but it yielded no positive results.
“Kidnappers have taken over the Igbe-Alagemo community. We have recorded seven cases in four months. They kidnap our members almost every day, and they collect ransom in millions. They even killed three of our members in the process. Some of the victims are here with us. Many of our members (landlords) are fleeing their home,s and we no longer sleep with our two eyes closed. Our children can no longer go to school,l and businesses are going down in the community.
“We are appealing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to save us. We need security. We need government presence. Igbe-Alagemo community has become the new haven for kidnappers in Ikorodu, and nobody is safe here again. The governor should help us to address this situation as urgently as possible.
Executive Chairman of Igbogbo Local Council Development Area, Sesan Daini, said he was disturbed by the continuous cases of killing and kidnappings in the area, adding that the Lagos State government is doing everything possible to curb the situation.
He urged the protesters to cooperate with the government in addressing the issue, insisting that it was the responsibility of the government to provide security for the citizens.
“We are concerned about the situation in the Alagemo community. The government is doing everything possible to curb the situation. We have the Joint Security Task Force(JTF) working at the grassroots to tackle the rising spate of insecurity in the local government area and I want to assure you that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is on top of the situation.
“I will meet with a few members of the community and see how we can work together to address the situation,” he added.
Representatives of the traditional ruler of Igbogbo town, Tajudeen Alade, urged members of the community to redouble their efforts in securing their community.
Alade added that the issue of security should be handled in partnership with the government.
“On behalf of Kabiesi, the Oba of Igbogbo Kingdom, we appreciate your efforts. With this peaceful protest, you have exhibited courage and maturity in addressing the issue. We are going to send the report to the governor, but we will continue to appeal to you all to remain calm.
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