Kidnapping: Our lives are hanging by a thread, residents of Igbogbo-Baiyeku communities in Lagos cry out - Newstrends
Connect with us

metro

Kidnapping: Our lives are hanging by a thread, residents of Igbogbo-Baiyeku communities in Lagos cry out

Published

2 years ago

on

Kidnapping: Our lives are hanging by a thread, residents of Igbogbo-Baiyeku communities in Lagos cry out

By Damilola Salawu

Residents of Igbe Alagemo, Igbe Ogunro, Igbe Kapo, and Igbe Oloja in the Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA of Ikorodu, Lagos Srate, have cried out for urgent government’s intervention as kidnappers continue to terrorise them. What were once peaceful communities are now places of fear and trauma, where children no longer play outside and families sleep in terror, wondering where they will be next.

In an interview, one of the community leaders, Elder Timothy Jacob, said, “Over the past several months, we’ve endured wave after wave of violent kidnapping incidents. Victims have been abducted from their homes, on their way to work, and even from places of worship. Some have been released only after paying impossible ransoms.
“In one recent attack, criminals cut through an electric fence in Igbe Oloja, entered a home, and abducted two women. In the chaos, a loyal dog was seriously injured defending its owners, an elderly woman was assaulted, and a local security volunteer fell into a septic tank while fleeing.
“A brave naval officer who tried to intervene was shot in the leg. The kidnappers later demanded ₦13 million, and after tense negotiations, the women were released in Igbe Ogunro.”

READ ALSO:

Despite these horrific events, the silence from government officials has been deafening. No one has reportedly visited the families. No visible security presence has been established. Community leaders and residents have made repeated appeals—through media channels, local offices, and public protests—but no tangible help has come.

Another concerned resident said, “What makes this even more painful is the complete lack of empathy from our own local representatives.
“During one encounter, the Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA Chairman, Olusesan Mayokun Dain, dismissed a concerned resident and even removed his cap during the discussion, a move seen as insulting and tone-deaf. At a time when leadership is needed most, our people feel mocked and abandoned.’

Many residents are now fleeing their homes. The few who remain live in constant fear. Children have stopped going to school. Businesses are shutting down. The air is thick with anxiety. These are not just isolated incidents. This is a community under siege.
“We are not asking for miracles. We are demanding action. The state government must deploy adequate security forces, clear out the bushes and creeks that provide cover for criminals, and engage directly with community leaders and residents to restore peace and confidence,” Mr Adeoye Iyanda, said.
“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we need you now. We need to see and feel that our lives matter. Security is not a privilege—it is a right. And it is your duty.
“Until there is action, we remain in fear. We remain unheard. And we continue to hope that someone in power will finally listen,” he added.

Kidnapping: Our lives are hanging by a thread, residents of Igbogbo-Baiyeku communities in Lagos cry out

Loading

Related Topics:
Advertisement

metro

IBEDC Announces Major Power Outage in Ogun Region Over Network Load Restriction

Published

31 minutes ago

on

October 17, 2026

By

IBEDC Office

IBEDC Announces Major Power Outage in Ogun Region Over Network Load Restriction

 

Abeokuta, Ogun State — Residents and businesses across major parts of Ogun State are bracing for a significant disruption in electricity supply following an official notice of power outage issued by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

In a statement released on Saturday, October 17, 2026, and signed by the Ogun Region office, the utility company attributed the impending blackout to load restrictions on the Ota/Papalanto/Abeokuta 132kV network. According to the management, this restriction is severely impacting the available power supply to their 33kV feeders serving the region.

The notice, which was directed to “Esteemed Customers,” indicates that the power rationing will affect a vast array of communities across the state.

Providing a comprehensive list of the affected areas, IBEDC stated that customers in Itele, Iyesi, Osuke, Lafenwa, Oju-Ore, Ilogbo, Ewupe, Singer, Jacross, Ore-Meta, Iju, and Iju Love will experience reduced power supply.

Other affected locations include Mopin, Ota Industrial Estate, Housing Estate, Afobaje, Olosun, Oke-Ola, Alishiba, GRA, The Bell, Igberen, Davol, Iyana-Iyesi, Olokuta, High Court, Oloko, Obasanjo, Ayetoro, Imeko, Ilaro, Ifo, Papalanto, Ijako, Idiroko, and Odeda.

The outage also extends to Owode-Egba, Kobape, Bisodun, Omu, Arigbawonwo, Siun, Asipa, Orile-Imo, New Makun City, Pentagon Estate, Lufuwape, Ibafo, Mowe, Lotto, Olowotedo, Orimerunmu, Ofada Town, Pakuro, Ogunrun, Asa-Bala, Mayegun, and the Christ Embassy Area.

Furthermore, residents in Ijagba, Akeja, Owode Ijako, Ibogun, Ajegunle, Ilepa, Ijako Onihale, Abeokuta, and its environs are equally expected to be affected by the load restriction.

IBEDC noted that it is actively monitoring the situation in collaboration with its value chain partners to resolve the issue and restore normal supply. The company promised to keep its customers updated on any new developments regarding the network.

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience,” the statement concluded, acknowledging the impact the reduced power supply will have on homes, industries, and commercial activities in the affected areas.

Customers experiencing prolonged outages or requiring further clarifications have been urged to contact the company via its customer care lines at 0805 500 9999 or 0915 500 9999, or through their official social media handles.

 

IBEDC Announces Major Power Outage in Ogun Region Over Network Load Restriction

Loading

Continue Reading

metro

Gunmen Kill Two Policemen, Raze Station, Patrol Van in Daring Attack on Aba Police Division

Published

2 hours ago

on

October 17, 2026

By

Gunmen Kill Two Policemen, Raze Station, Patrol Van in Daring Attack on Aba Police Division

 

ABA, ABIA STATE – A wave of grief and insecurity has gripped the commercial hub of Aba following a horrific attack by unknown gunmen on the Uratta Police Division, which left two police officers dead and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

 

The brutal assault, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, saw the assailants not only neutralize the officers on duty but also set the police station and a patrol vehicle ablaze in a display of brazen violence.

 

According to eyewitness accounts and confirmed by police authorities, the heavily armed hoodlums stormed the facility, firing sporadically to overwhelm the security architecture of the division. During the ensuing gun duel, two policemen paid the ultimate price, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

 

Images from the scene of the incident, which have circulated online, depict a scene of devastation. A police operation van, parked within the premises, was completely incinerated, reduced to a charred metal shell. The attackers also torched parts of the station building before fleeing the scene, leaving a trail of panic among residents of the Uratta community.

 

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Abia State Command, assured the public that a manhunt has been launched to apprehend the fleeing suspects. The Command, in a statement, condemned the attack as a cowardly act and vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to book.

 

“The Command has lost two of its gallant officers in the line of duty. We are currently on the trail of the attackers, and we assure the public that normalcy has been restored to the area,” the PPRO stated.

 

Residents of the area have expressed deep concern over the recurring attacks on security formations in the South-East, calling on the government to intensify efforts to curb the rising tide of insecurity. The attack on the Uratta Division is the latest in a series of targeted assaults on police infrastructure in the region.

 

As of the time of filing this report, security has been beefed up around the affected division to prevent any further breakdown of law and order, while the remains of the deceased officers have been deposited at a mortuary.

 

Gunmen Kill Two Policemen, Raze Station, Patrol Van in Daring Attack on Aba Police Division

Loading

Continue Reading

metro

COAS Storms Borno as Tinubu Orders Rescue of All Abductees, Destruction of Terrorist Camps

Published

6 hours ago

on

October 17, 2026

By

COAS Storms Borno as Tinubu Orders Rescue of All Abductees, Destruction of Terrorist Camps

COAS Storms Borno as Tinubu Orders Rescue of All Abductees, Destruction of Terrorist Camps

MAIDUGURI — Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has arrived in Borno State as the Nigerian military intensifies its security operations following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to rescue all abducted persons and eliminate terrorist and bandit camps across the country.

Shaibu arrived in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, at about 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2026, two days after Tinubu issued the directive to security chiefs during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The army chief’s visit comes amid renewed pressure on security agencies to intensify counterterrorism operations, dismantle insurgent hideouts and secure the release of Nigerians being held captive by criminal groups.

Although it remains unclear whether the visit was directly triggered by the President’s order, Shaibu is expected to meet with theatre, field and unit commanders involved in military operations across the state.

His arrival at the headquarters of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri signals continued military engagement in a region that has faced years of insurgency and attacks by armed groups.

Tinubu’s directive was disclosed on Thursday, October 15, by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), after a security meeting with the President and heads of security agencies.

According to Musa, the President ordered security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and rescue all abducted persons, regardless of where they were being held.

READ ALSO:

“The directive from the President is: all of us must go all out to fish out and rescue all those that have been abducted, kidnapped, wherever they are,” the minister quoted Tinubu as saying.

The President also directed security chiefs to ensure that terrorist and bandit camps were dismantled across the country.

“There shouldn’t be any camp of any terrorists or bandits anywhere in Nigeria,” Musa said, relaying the President’s position.

The directive comes as the Federal Government faces continuing security challenges, including kidnappings, terrorist attacks and the activities of armed groups in parts of northern Nigeria.

Borno remains a major theatre of counterinsurgency operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have carried out attacks on civilians, security personnel and communities in the North-East.

Military operations under Operation Hadin Kai have focused on confronting insurgents, disrupting their movements and restoring security to affected communities. The latest visit by the army chief is expected to provide an opportunity for engagements with commanders overseeing operations on the ground.

Tinubu has also directed security chiefs to ensure adequate security for Nigerians during the elections scheduled for January, according to the Defence Minister.

The President’s instructions place renewed emphasis on rescuing abductees, dismantling armed groups’ operational bases and improving the security environment ahead of the polls.

However, the army chief’s arrival in Maiduguri should not be interpreted as confirmation that all abductees have been rescued or that terrorist camps have been eliminated. No such outcome was established in the reports announcing his visit.

The military’s next steps and any operational results from the engagements in Borno are likely to be closely watched by families of abducted persons and communities affected by insurgency.

For now, the government’s stated objective remains clear: intensify security operations, rescue people held in captivity and dismantle the camps used by terrorists and bandits to carry out attacks across Nigeria.

 

COAS Storms Borno as Tinubu Orders Rescue of All Abductees, Destruction of Terrorist Camps

Loading

Continue Reading

Trending