Reps member petitions Presidency, House over kidnappings, killings in constituency

The member representing Ibarapa Central/Ibarapa North Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, Muraina Ajibola, has petitioned the Presidency over incessant cases of kidnapping and killings in his constituency.

He also demanded adequate compensation for victims of kidnapping in the area since 2015.
The lawmaker, who listed the names of the victims, also petitioned the Special Security Committee of the House of Representatives over the matter.

Ajibola presented the petition on behalf of traditional rulers, opinion leaders, religious leaders, youths, women, students, professionals, traders, farmers, political leaders and the entire Ibarapa community of Oyo State.

He called on the Federal Government to pay serious attention to the issue of security in his constituency.
He urged that the incidents be investigated and that the perpetrators be brought to book.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Olubunmi Sodipo, the lawmaker lamented that as a result of the kidnappings and killings, the people now live in fear.

He said most of them can no longer go to the farms thereby causing hunger and poverty.

“The frequency and severity of the kidnapping problem in Ibarapa Central/ Ibarapa North Federal Constituency requires that the situation be given serious consideration to unravel the contributive factors towards finding a lasting solution and for the same to be reported and recommended to the Presidency for prompt and comprehensive implementation.

“The Ibarapa Central/ Ibarapa North Federal Constituency consisting of the towns, Igboora, Idere, Igangan, Tapa and Aiyete are of mainly agrarian people whose livelihood and economy are being severely affected by the incessant and wanton destruction of farmlands by itinerant herdsmen as much as dastardly attacks by armed bandits and criminal elements notorious for killings, kidnappings, rape and extortion of huge sums of money from their victims, which situation I have moved motions on severally as the records of the House will bear me out,” he said.

He listed about 28 incidents that happened between March 2015 and May 2021, where several millions were paid in ransom and some victims killed by the kidnappers.