By Lucy Osuizigbo
Lagos – Farmers and community leaders in Epe area of Lagos State on Monday urged the Military Joint Taskforce (JTF) to extend its mandate to the community, to curtail the rate of kidnapping in the area.
They appealed to the Lagos State Government to seek the support of Defence Headquarters to extend the mandate of the JTF to the Igbodu/Isiwo axis of the community.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the farmers and community leaders staged a peaceful protest at the Governor’s Office to demand government’s intervention to check kidnapping in the area.
They had placards with inscriptions such as “Save us from Kidnappers’’, “Save Farmers, Save the Nation’’, “Please, Flush out the Creeks’’, “Food Security is Threatened’’ and “Save our Investments’’.
Mr Ayokunle Ore, the spokesperson of the group, said their farms had been under sustained attacks by kidnappers since September 2016.
Ore said that 33 persons had been kidnapped from different farms, with 26 released after paying ransoms and seven persons still missing and at the mercy of the kidnappers.
He said that their complaints/petitions to the state government and engagement with security agencies such as the police, the military, the Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) and local vigilance groups, had not yielded positive result.
According to him, the high rate of kidnapping in the area needs to be handled as a matter of urgency as their investments have been negatively affected and their lives are at risk.
”With the desire to contribute our quota to national food security and sufficiency, we have invested our lifetime savings and borrowings from banks to establish farms in the agricultural belt created by the state government.
”Some of us even relocated from abroad to come and invest in farming to respond to government’s call for diversification of the economy.
”We estimate over N20 billion investments by small, medium and large scale farmers in the area and now it is at grave risk.
”We urge Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to intervene urgently and come to our rescue by seeking the support of JTF in the area to destroy the camps of these kidnappers.
”They should extend the mandate of the JTF(Operation Awatse), currently in Ikorodu and Festac, to also cover the Igbodu/Isiwo axis and adjourning creeks,” Ore said.
Addressing the protesters, the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, condemned the incessant attacks by kidnappers in the area.
She said that in spite of government’s efforts to make the state safe and liveable for residents and investors, some scrupulous persons still engage in crimes and make life difficult for people.
”Security issues are sensitive issues, and the government is not resting on its oars. We are doing all we can to restore peace in the area.
”Currently, the state government is speaking with the Federal Government to see how they can work with us to combat the problem of insecurity because we cannot do it alone.
”Government cannot be involved in paying ransom, but will ensure that it provides the security agencies with necessary equipment and support to contain the situation and rescue the victims.
”We sympathise with you and we beg for your understanding. I will relay you complaints to Gov. Ambode for further and appropriate action on the matter, ” Adebule said.
