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Terror in Iseyin: Gunmen Kill Former Local Government Staff, Abduct Petrol Attendant
Iseyin town in Oyo State was thrown into mourning on Thursday night as gunmen suspected to be kidnappers unleashed terror, killing a former local government staff and abducting a petrol station attendant.
The brazen attack, which has left residents in shock and heightened fears of insecurity, occurred in the Sawmill area of Iseyin, a bustling part of the town.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that the gunmen stormed the residence of Mr. Oladimeji Adeoye, a respected former council worker, under the cover of darkness.
They reportedly arrived in a convoy of vehicles, armed with sophisticated weapons, and fired sporadically into the air to create panic and clear their path.
In the chaos that followed, Mr. Adeoye attempted to flee but was cornered and shot multiple times by the attackers.
His lifeless body was discovered shortly after the gunmen left the scene.
The horrifying attack did not end there.
The assailants moved to a nearby petrol station along the Iseyin-Saki road, where they abducted a young petrol attendant.
The victim, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, was whisked away at gunpoint, leaving behind terrified onlookers who were too scared to intervene.
The motive for the abduction remains unclear, but many suspect it to be ransom-related, a strategy increasingly employed by criminal gangs across the region.
This tragic incident is the latest in a string of violent crimes that have plagued Iseyin and its surrounding communities in recent years.
In early 2022, the Sawmill area also witnessed a similar attack when gunmen abducted a prominent businessman, Alhaji Wasiu Mamod, from his residence.
Although his family reportedly paid a hefty ransom of sixty million naira to secure his release, the victim tragically passed away shortly after regaining freedom, likely due to the trauma he endured while in captivity.
In May 2023, another incident rocked the community when a phone repairer, Mr. Rahmon Aralamo, was kidnapped in Oluwole.
In June of the same year, a poultry farmer along the Iseyin-Saki road became a victim, with his family reportedly paying millions of naira for his release.
The persistent wave of kidnappings has created a climate of fear among residents, many of whom now live in constant anxiety.
The once-vibrant town is now grappling with the harsh reality that anyone could be the next target.
The spate of violent crimes has not gone unnoticed by authorities.
The Oyo State House of Assembly has repeatedly voiced concerns over the rising insecurity in the Oke Ogun geopolitical zone, which includes Iseyin.
Lawmakers have described the situation as a grave threat to the state’s socio-economic development and have called for urgent intervention.
During a recent session, Hon. Bamidele Adeola, representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju, and Hon. Sanjo Onaolapo of Ogbomoso South sponsored a motion titled “Urgent Need to Take Proactive Steps to Mitigate the Persistent Increase in Cases of Kidnapping, Killings, and Other Social Vices in Iseyin Community and Oyo State at Large.”
The lawmakers emphasized that the continuous rise in kidnappings and other criminal activities could cripple the economic prosperity of the state if left unchecked.
They urged security agencies to intensify efforts to combat these crimes and restore peace to the affected communities.
In response to recent incidents, the Oyo State government has taken steps to address the security challenges.
A security team has been deployed to the Ipapo/Iseyin axis in the Oyo North Senatorial District, following the abduction of four farmers in the area.
The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Adeniyi Adebisi, has assured residents that all efforts are being made to ensure the safe return of the abducted farmers.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that the kidnappers have contacted the families of the victims, demanding a ransom of twenty million naira.
The Chairman of the Iseyin Farmers Settlement Center, Mr. Adepoju Rasheed, has expressed concerns about possible collusion between the kidnappers and individuals within the community.
He noted that a military-led search party had located the hideout of the kidnappers, but the criminals managed to relocate deeper into the forest, raising questions about the effectiveness of local security operations.
As the community mourns the loss of Mr. Oladimeji Adeoye, calls for a more localized approach to security have grown louder.
A prominent traditionalist and human rights activist, Chief Ifagbemileke Ife Fidudusola, has urged the adoption of traditional security measures alongside conventional ones.
He emphasized the need for a local security committee that is free from political or business influences to tackle the growing menace of kidnappings and violent crimes.
Chief Fidudusola lamented the impact of insecurity on the local economy, particularly on farmers who now fear accessing their farms due to the threat of kidnappers.
He highlighted the importance of leveraging local wisdom and knowledge to combat crime, arguing that reliance on conventional security methods alone may not suffice.
The activist also called for the replacement of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Iseyin, accusing the officer of negligence and failure to act on critical intelligence about suspicious activities in the area.
Despite these challenges, there have been some successes in the fight against crime.
The Oyo State Police Command recently announced the arrest of forty-seven suspected kidnappers and armed robbers in various parts of the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, disclosed that the suspects were apprehended during coordinated operations, and several items were recovered, including an AK-47 rifle, two locally-made pistols, and cash amounting to 2.7 million naira.
While this development is commendable, residents believe that more needs to be done to ensure their safety.
The killing of Mr. Adeoye and the abduction of the petrol attendant have once again brought the issue of insecurity to the forefront.
For the people of Iseyin, the loss of a respected community member and the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the abducted petrol attendant serve as painful reminders of the urgent need for effective security measures.
As the town grieves and prays for justice, there is a growing sense of determination among residents to take collective action against the forces threatening their peace and livelihood.
The tragedy in Iseyin is not just a wake-up call for the local community but also for the entire state and nation.
It underscores the pressing need for a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to tackling insecurity, one that combines the efforts of government, security agencies, traditional institutions, and the citizenry.
Until then, the people of Iseyin can only hope for a day when they can sleep peacefully in their homes, free from the fear of gunmen and kidnappers lurking in the shadows.
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