Gunmen attack Ogun community, kidnap landlords, rape women

No fewer than two landlords have been abducted and three women
reportedly raped in a renewed onslaught by some gunmen on residents
of Ibafo, Ogun State.

It was gathered that suspected militants
attacked Gideon village, Oke Cele and Asiwaju communities in Ibafo,
unleashing mayhem on residents and carting away property.

Our correspondent was told that the militants demanded N50m for
the release of a landlord in Gideon village, identified only as
Joel, who was abducted in his house.

It was learnt that before the victim was released, the militants
picked another landlord and Joel’s neighbour, identified as
Lucas.

Lucas was said to have been abducted in his car and driven to
Ebute, where the car was dumped.

He was ferried away in a boat and had since been missing.

The gunmen were reported to have invaded homes and raped married
women in front of their helpless husbands.

Our correspondent was told that on Tuesday, the militants
burgled at least three houses and carted away goods in Oke
Cele.

Residents and community leaders, who spoke with our
correspondent on condition of anonymity, lamented that security
agencies could not confront the militants, calling for military
bombardment of the creeks.

A resident told PUNCH Metro that the militants usually
wrote letters to the communities before attacking them, adding that
they moved in groups.

He said, “Before any attack, these militants would write letters
and ask residents to prepare for them. When they get to their
target community, they move in groups of 30s and 50s. They would go
from one house to another, raping young ladies and beating up young
men.”

It was learnt that the hoodlums invaded a house in Asiwaju
community last Thursday and raped a nursing mother, while her
husband was forced to fan them.

A community leader said while Joel was kidnapped on July 9, his
neighbour, Lucas, was kidnapped on July 16.

He said, “In Gideon village, two landlords were kidnapped. The
first, Mr. Joel, was released on Tuesday after 10 days in
captivity. They demanded N50m for his release; I don’t know how
much was paid after negotiation.

“Lucas was kidnapped last Saturday. He had not been released
since then.”

PUNCH Metro gathered that the militants struck again on
Tuesday when they burgled three houses in Oke Cele.

“Ibafo is under siege. A policeman told us that the militants
are too powerful for the security agents and only God can deliver
us,” a resident said.

A police source told PUNCH Metro that the militants
were on the rampage after the clampdown on their pipeline vandalism
trade.

He added that they always attacked soft targets whenever they
operated.

He said, “Before the Federal Government’s clampdown on the
activities of the vandals, they always hobnob with the residents.
They eat with them and sleep in their houses. But after their means
of survival was blocked, they decided to turn against people in the
communities.

“They always look around to see where there is no heavy security
presence. They attack and retreat into the creek. And it is
difficult for the security agents to reach them in their fortress
because of the difficult terrain.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State, SP Muyiwa
Adejobi, confirmed the kidnap, adding that Joel had been
released.

“We are making efforts to increase security presence in the area
and to rescue the second victim,” he added.

The post Gunmen attack Ogun community, kidnap landlords,
rape women appeared first from online sources and was reposted by the community on Welcome to 9jalegal –
Nigeria’s Leading Legal Information and Services Portal.

No fewer than two landlords have been abducted and three women
reportedly raped in a renewed onslaught by some gunmen on residents
of Ibafo, Ogun State.

It was gathered that suspected militants
attacked Gideon village, Oke Cele and Asiwaju communities in Ibafo,
unleashing mayhem on residents and carting away property.

Our correspondent was told that the militants demanded N50m for
the release of a landlord in Gideon village, identified only as
Joel, who was abducted in his house.

It was learnt that before the victim was released, the militants
picked another landlord and Joel’s neighbour, identified as
Lucas.

Lucas was said to have been abducted in his car and driven to
Ebute, where the car was dumped.

He was ferried away in a boat and had since been missing.

The gunmen were reported to have invaded homes and raped married
women in front of their helpless husbands.

Our correspondent was told that on Tuesday, the militants
burgled at least three houses and carted away goods in Oke
Cele.

Residents and community leaders, who spoke with our
correspondent on condition of anonymity, lamented that security
agencies could not confront the militants, calling for military
bombardment of the creeks.

A resident told PUNCH Metro that the militants usually
wrote letters to the communities before attacking them, adding that
they moved in groups.

He said, “Before any attack, these militants would write letters
and ask residents to prepare for them. When they get to their
target community, they move in groups of 30s and 50s. They would go
from one house to another, raping young ladies and beating up young
men.”

It was learnt that the hoodlums invaded a house in Asiwaju
community last Thursday and raped a nursing mother, while her
husband was forced to fan them.

A community leader said while Joel was kidnapped on July 9, his
neighbour, Lucas, was kidnapped on July 16.

He said, “In Gideon village, two landlords were kidnapped. The
first, Mr. Joel, was released on Tuesday after 10 days in
captivity. They demanded N50m for his release; I don’t know how
much was paid after negotiation.

“Lucas was kidnapped last Saturday. He had not been released
since then.”

PUNCH Metro gathered that the militants struck again on
Tuesday when they burgled three houses in Oke Cele.

“Ibafo is under siege. A policeman told us that the militants
are too powerful for the security agents and only God can deliver
us,” a resident said.

A police source told PUNCH Metro that the militants
were on the rampage after the clampdown on their pipeline vandalism
trade.

He added that they always attacked soft targets whenever they
operated.

He said, “Before the Federal Government’s clampdown on the
activities of the vandals, they always hobnob with the residents.
They eat with them and sleep in their houses. But after their means
of survival was blocked, they decided to turn against people in the
communities.

“They always look around to see where there is no heavy security
presence. They attack and retreat into the creek. And it is
difficult for the security agents to reach them in their fortress
because of the difficult terrain.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State, SP Muyiwa
Adejobi, confirmed the kidnap, adding that Joel had been
released.

“We are making efforts to increase security presence in the area
and to rescue the second victim,” he added.

The post Gunmen attack Ogun community, kidnap landlords,
rape women appeared first from online sources and was reposted by the community on Welcome to 9jalegal –
Nigeria’s Leading Legal Information and Services Portal.