Some women from Oke-Ere, a remote community in Yagba West local government area of Kogi State, on Monday protested against incessant kidnappings and worsening insecurity in the area.
A member of the community who confided in LEADERSHIP said kidnappings in the area have become a daily affair, saying that the people have become helpless, calling on the security agencies and the state government to come to their aid.
Speaking further, he said a certain kidnapper (name not given) came out publicly to denounce kidnapping and even mentioned some natives of the area being part of them.
He said the continued denial of those natives prompted the women to stage the protest, saying that they were worried that their own kinsmen could connive with foreigners to inflict pain on them.
In his words, “While those natives continue to deny the allegation, the women decided to protest. The names of the repentant kidnapper and their native collaborators were, however, not given.”
In a swift reaction, chairman of the local government, Tosin Olokun , who dismissed this narrative, said that the women coming out in their numbers is an annual occurrence, saying that it has nothing to do with kidnappings or violent crimes in the area.
He noted that the procession by the women was with the knowledge of the chief of the community, the Elere of Ere, saying that proper permission was sorted from the council before the commencement of the procession by the women.
Speaking on behalf of the chairman, Hon Femi Adeyeye, supervisory councillor for Special Duties and Education, who was also in charge of the security in the LGA, called on the public to disregard the protest issue.
“The Women usually come out every year as a tradition to pray for the community and rain courses on the people who may be disturbing the peace of the community.”
According to him, the council have been waging war against crimes and criminality in the area, saying the issue of women protesting against kidnappings in the area is far from the truth.
“I can send the video to you to see and get the interpretation. There was nothing like protest. What happened three days ago is a normal yearly assemblage of women who pray for the peace of the community,” he added.
Recall that kidnappings and other violent crimes have become a regular feature in the Kogi West senatorial district of the state in recent times.
Last month, the people of the Oduape community in the Kabba Bunu local government area of Kogi West staged a similar protest against incessant kidnappings and killings in the area.
They had also called on the state government and security agencies to help them, as they could no longer be in their homes.
