Over 200 Persons Killed In 4 Years In South West – Gani Adams

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has claimed that over 200 persons have been killed by kidnappers and armed herdsmen in four years in the South West.

He made this known on Thursday during the fourth edition of the Southwest Security Stakeholders Group conference, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Adams also revealed that more than N3 billion has been paid as ransom to kidnappers in the South West in the last four years, adding that the region cannot continue to pay such an amount.

The Yoruba leader added that South West has been ravaged by senseless kidnappings, saying that the spate of insecurity in the country has not spared anyone.

He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to wake up to its responsibilities by protecting lives and properties across the country.

He said: “The spate of insecurity in the country didn’t spare anyone, even our leader, an Afenifere chieftain, and former secretary to the Government, Olu Falae, had a terrible experience with the kidnappers. He was kidnapped and his farm was destroyed. He lost several million to the ugly incident.

“Also, residents of Igangan, Ibarapa in Oke Ogun area of Oyo State, have had their fair share of the troubles of banditry and killings. They are always at the mercy of bandits and marauders, who masquerade as herders.

“The situation in the country is so worrisome that travelers can hardly travel for a journey of six hours in the country without facing the trauma of being kidnapped or killed by bandits. Despite the economic situation of the country, Yoruba land has lost more than N3 billion as ransom to kidnappers and the lives lost within the space of four years is over 200.”

Speaking further, the Aare Onakakanfo reiterated the need for state police to silence the call for self-defence by Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State and his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom.