Kidnapping: Epe residents want improved security

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule; State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni; member, Lagos House of Assembly representing Epe constituency II, Hon. Olusegun Olulade and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr. Titi Kayode (2nd left, behind) during the Deputy Governor’s visit to Lagos Model College, Igbonla-Epe where four students and two Teachers were kidnapped, on Thursday.

Some traditional rulers and residents of Eredo Local Council Development Area in Epe, Lagos, have called on the state government to strengthen security in the community to combat criminal activities.

They made the appeal in interviews in Lagos on Sunday following the kidnapping of four students and their teachers on Thursday.

The principal, a teacher and four students of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, near Epe, were kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Following the incident, armed policemen and other security agents have mounted patrols in the area.

The traditional ruler of the community, Oba Akeem Adesanya, disclosed that there was not sufficient security in the community.

Adesanya, who is Alara of Ilara, said: “The community depends on vigilante and neighbourhood watch but they are not enough to combat such ugly occurrence.

“The security men in the community are not fully armed to confront the superior gadgets used by the hoodlums.

“There is, therefore, need for security to be beefed up in the area.”

Another traditional ruler, Oba Cajetan Adekoya of Ibonwon Community in Epe-Eredo, Lagos, expressed sadness over the incident.

He blamed the abduction of the students and their teachers on the neglect of the school by the Lagos State Government.

Adekoya said that such incident should not have happened if government had given the area necessary attention and provided adequate security.

“It is time security is beefed up at schools in the outskirts of the Lagos mega city.

“The model school is government property and should be taken care of.

“Government should also beef up security surveillance in Epe because people are now relocating to the city centre because of the neglect of rural areas,” Oba Adekoya said.

Also, a resident, Adeniyi Raman, said that the kidnappers took advantage of the bush in the area to carry out the operation.

Another resident, Mrs Zainab Lasisi, appealed to the government to ensure that the students and their teachers were rescued alive.