Residents of Ogbomoso town in Oyo State on Monday trooped out in their large numbers to protest increasing spate of insecurity and called the attention of government to the worsening security situation in the town.
The protest was a reaction to the recent abduction and killing of a hotelier, Mr Gbenga Owolabi, and Racheal Opadele, a 500L student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).
The peaceful protest which was championed by Ogbomoso Consultative Council and Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum started at Takie and moved round the town.
The protesters which later converged at Soun Ogunlola Hall, displayed placards with various inscriptions such as “Come to our rescue before we start self defense,” “Allow us to defend ourselves,” among others.
At the rally, traditionalists, members of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Agbekoya, vigilante and other groups said they were ready to give it wherever it takes to stop criminal activities in Ogbomoso and its environs.
A representative of the traditional heads, mogajis, and chiefs while addressing the crowd, said they were taking necessary steps on the issue.
He also urged residents to cooperate with OPC, Amotekun and other indigenous security agencies in their efforts to combat crimes in Ogbomoso.
Some of the personalities who addressed the crowd included Imam Ile Yoruba, AIG Sheu Babalola (Rtd); AIG Ajani (Rtd); CAN Chairman, Ogbomoso; representative of Chief Imam of Ogbomoso; Iyaloja of Ogbomoso, Lamiju Alao Akala among others.
In their separate remarks, they said efforts were going underneath to improve on the security of lives and properties in the town, urging residents to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement to the appropriate authority.
