- Community leaders say the thick vegetation and difficult terrain in parts of the corridor make surveillance challenging
- reports of criminal activities in forests and on highways across the region should be addressed with urgency
- The governor revealed that several suspects linked to kidnapping and related offences had already been apprehended
Fresh concerns are emerging across the South-West over the growing activities of kidnappers and other criminal groups following a series of attacks that have unsettled residents and raised questions about security in the region.
Eko Hot Blog gathered the while insurgency and terrorism have for years been associated mainly with Northern Nigeria, recent incidents in parts of Yorubaland have heightened fears that armed groups may be taking advantage of forested areas and poorly monitored routes to expand their operations.
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The anxiety intensified after the abduction of dozens of pupils, students and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The incident sparked outrage among residents, labour unions and civil society groups, many of whom have continued to demand swift action from security agencies.
The development has also drawn attention to the security situation along major transport corridors in Oyo State. Areas around the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode axis have become a source of concern following repeated reports of kidnappings and attacks on commuters and workers.
Community leaders say the thick vegetation and difficult terrain in parts of the corridor make surveillance challenging and provide cover for criminal elements.
President of the Yoruba Council Worldwide, Sooko Oladotun Hassan, said the security of lives and property across the South-West must remain a priority for governments, traditional institutions and security agencies.
According to him, reports of criminal activities in forests and on highways across the region should be addressed with urgency, while avoiding actions capable of creating unnecessary fear among residents.
He identified several roads and forest corridors that have featured in security reports in recent months, including routes linking Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states.
Hassan noted that criminal gangs have increasingly exploited remote locations and difficult terrains to carry out kidnappings and other violent crimes, stressing that security agencies must intensify surveillance and intelligence gathering.
In Ogun State, security stakeholders have expressed concern about several forest corridors believed to be vulnerable to infiltration by criminal groups. Some of the affected areas include routes connecting Abeokuta with neighbouring communities and sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where dense forests stretch close to major roads.
Ondo State has also recorded a rise in violent incidents linked to criminal hideouts in forests and farming settlements. Residents of some communities have reported attacks on farmers, travellers and local leaders, forcing many to abandon their farms for fear of being targeted.
The situation has prompted security agencies to strengthen operations across affected areas. Authorities say additional personnel have been deployed to vulnerable communities to curb criminal activities and restore confidence among residents.
Commander of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed that recent operations carried out in forests across the state resulted in the arrest of dozens of suspected kidnappers.
He explained that security operatives had intensified patrols and intelligence-driven operations in response to the increase in criminal activities, adding that investigations into the suspects were ongoing.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has also vowed to sustain pressure on kidnappers and their backers. He warned that anyone found sponsoring or collaborating with criminal groups would face prosecution, regardless of status or influence.
The governor revealed that several suspects linked to kidnapping and related offences had already been apprehended, expressing confidence that ongoing operations would help improve security across the state.
With incidents of kidnapping and violent crime drawing increasing attention in the South-West, stakeholders are urging stronger cooperation between governments, security agencies and local communities to prevent criminal groups from gaining further ground in the region.
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