OGUN State deputy governor Yetunde Onanuga was forced to flee yesterday when her convoy was attacked by a group of armed gunmen suspected to be militants operating in the riverine area of the state.
While on a tour of the Ogun State coastal areas that border Lagos State, Mrs Onanuga's motorcade was attacked and the militants and her security details ended up exchanging gunfire. Accompanied by some of the cabinet, she had gone to assure the communities that included Imushin, Elepete and Igbo-Olomu, of the commitment of the state government to providing them with adequate security.
However, while approaching Akoka Ebute area of Ibafo, in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, the situation took another dimension as the suspected militants opened fire on the security operatives that accompanied the deputy governor. Following the readiness of the militants to further launch attacks, the delegation made a U-turn from the troubled area.
Taiwo Adeoluwa, the secretary to the Ogun State government, expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the affected communities. He called for urgent attention of the federal government’s assistance, adding that the exchange of gunfire between the security operatives and the daredevil criminals in broad daylight was regrettable.
Mr Adeoluwa said: “It is a thing of regret that things have gone so bad in our country and it means that without mincing words, the federal government needs to get involved in this. This is something that is beyond the capacity of the police.
"We need a military task force like the one we have in Niger Delta, as it is necessary and desirable. As we can see in Elepete, Igbo-Olomu and Imagbon, nothing can be compared with the violence here in Ibafo.”
Meanwhile, the Baale of Akoka Ebute, Ibafo, Chief Folorunso Balogun, said the community has now become deserted. He added that a couple was abducted by the suspected militants yesterday and appealed to the federal government to deploy more troops to the area.
Chief Balogun said he and his family had relocated from the community to avoid the militants, whom he pointed out had engaged in the mindless looting of the area. It is not yet clear if the federal government will heed this call to assign troops to the trouble area.
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