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

residents of Igbogbo-Baiyeku communities in Lagos cry out

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.”

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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.