Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has replied the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, saying President Muhammadu Buhari was not oblivious of the fresh security challenges in the country, adding that the oresident was doing everything possible to arrest the situation.
The group said security operatives have actually been making arrests over the spate of kidnapping and sundry security challenges in the country.
Responding to recent comments by Oba Adeyemi on security situation, especially in the South-West, BMO said these security challenges are not limited to any part of the country.
In a statement signed Monday in Abuja by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group said the government is not relenting in efforts at ensuring a more secure Nigeria.
BMO said: “We have acknowledged the security situation that the Oyo Monarch has alluded to, but facts on ground do not support his allegation that no major arrests of suspects have been made.
“The very first case of high profile abduction that was linked to suspected Fulani herdsmen was that of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olu Falae who was kidnapped in 2015 from his farm in Ilado village, Akure North, Ondo state.
“We recall that Falae’s captors, numbering six, were arrested by the Police, prosecuted by the Ondo state government and have since been sentenced to life imprisonment each.
“And in recent times, the Police have arrested the suspected kidnappers of an orthopaedic surgeon at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile ife, Prof. Olayinka Adegbehingbe, and those behind the abduction of Mr. Dayo Adewole, a son of a former Minister of Heath, Professor Isaac Adewole.
“These are high profile kidnap cases that were cracked in days, and there are also other instances where the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Police lived up to their responsibilities not only in the South West but also across the country”.
BMO also noted that while some of the arrested suspects were Fulani, there were also instances where the people found to be behind the abductions were locals.
This, the group said, is a clear indication that the emergent security challenges cannot necessarily be pinned to one part of the country.
“One example that readily comes to mind is the April 2019 incident involving the Lagos State Fire Service Director, Mr. Rasaki Musibau and six others who were kidnapped along the Ketu-Ereyun, Ikorodu-Epe road by a 7-man gang who collected a N5m ransom before releasing them.
“But when the Police swung into action, two suspects identified as Blessing Boyo and Smart Alfred were arrested and paraded.
“And there is also the case of one Victor John, a suspected member of a kidnapping syndicate using military camouflages to carry out operations in Ondo State, who was arrested by the Anti-kidnapping Squad of the Nigeria Army.
“These may look like isolated incidents but it is a pointer to a new trend in criminality that has no ethnic or religious divide to warrant it being linked to a particular ethnic group.
“We also have it on record that the Police have in recent times arrested 105 suspects for armed robbery and seven for kidnapping as well as foiled a number of abduction through prompt response to distress calls.” BMO added.
The group however urged the security agencies to do more to stem the tide of kidnapping and banditry President Buhari acknowledged as emerging challenges in the country.
