Residents of several communities in Ose local government area of Ondo state are crying out for help over the level of insecurity that has taken over the communities.
The people of communities like Arimogija, Ijagba and Imoru all in Ose local government area of the state are pleading with the government to intervene in their situation before they are wiped off completely by people they described as Fulani herdsmen.
This call was made by a team of elders representing the communities while addressing Journalists in Akure on Thursday.
They were in the state capital on a protest march to make the government aware of their ongoing battle with attacks from gunmen who kidnap, maim and even kill residents of their communities.
The Prime Minister of Ijagba, High Chief Sunday Ogoh, who led the protest march to Akure revealed how many residents have lost their lives as the kidnappers have made the communities their base and hunting ground.
According to him, no fewer than twenty people have been killed by the kidnappers in recent times adding that the criminals resort to killing victims who could not pay the ransom they demand.
He said “This problem is not limited to Ijagba. There is general insecurity in that area. We are appealing that we need strong military base so that it will reduce incessant kidnappings and killings .
”Many people cannot go to the farms. The area has become a den of terrorists. They use the forest reserve as their base. They always kill those who could not pay ransom. Over 20 persons have been killed in the past two years.
“We have reported severally. Whenever there is an incident, we will report to the relevant agencies.
He added that the criminals are in possession of sophisticated weapons which has made it very difficult for the men of the Ondo state security network (Amotekun) and local vigilantes to successfully eliminate the problem.
“Amotekun is there, but their firearms cannot equate to the superior weapons of the herdsmen. We have vigilantes and they are trying. We don’t have guns or bullets for vigilance.”
