The Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Thursday described the reported kidnap of 25 persons within 24 hours in Ibarapa area of the state as scary.
Suspected kidnappers had been reported to have hijacked an 18-seater commercial bus along the Igboora/Eruwa Road in Ibarapa area of Oyo State on Thursday.
It was learnt that the bus which was heading to Eruwa had all the passengers kidnapped by the gunmen.
Also on Wednesday, seven persons were allegedly abducted in the Ibarapa area.
In a statement signed by its chairman and secretary, Ademola Babalola and Sola Oladapo, respectively, Oyo NUJ urged the State Police Commissioner, Ngozi Onadeko, to relocate to the troubled area in order to restore sanity and confidence for Ibarapa residents.
The union recalled that similar developments were witnessed in the area for the better part of 2019, 2020, and heightened recently, a development that had aggravated the tense security situation in the area.
According to the Union, “That this madness continues unabated despite assurances of the security agents leaves sour taste in the mouth.
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“A report says 18 people were kidnapped this (Thursday) morning, while another claimed seven persons were abducted on Wednesday. All these call for great concern and serious investigation by a delegation of high powered police hierarchy, hence the need for the CP to take up the challenge.
“We are alarmed by this ugly development and therefore call on all stakeholders in the security circle including the Chief Security Officer of the State, Governor Seyi Makinde, to immediately deploy all powers at their disposal to rescue the victims unhurt and bring the perpetrators to book.”
Meanwhile, the abductors of the 18 persons were said to have hijacked the vehicle and taken all the passengers to an unknown destination.
Information from the family of one of the victims said the gunmen demanded the sum of N10 million for the release of each of the victims.
Some people in the Ibarapa zone said the kidnappers had continued to have their ways despite heavy security presence in the zone.
