- To stage a protest today
By Chiemelie Ezeobi
Local farmers at the Igbodu/Isiwo area of Epe in Lagos State yesterday raised the alarm over the incessant kidnap attempts targeted at them in the past few months.
As at the last count, the aggrieved farmers said over 50 of their colleagues have fallen victims to the antics of the kidnappers, who only release them after the ransom demands have been met.
In a bid to draw the attention of the state government to their plight, the farmers said they will today protest to the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.
In a statement by Ayokunle Ore,
representing the Igbodu/Isiwo Road Farmers, the group said although they have engaged the police in the past, their response has been very poor.
The statement read in part: “As you are mostly aware over the last couple of months, the Igbodu/Isiwo farmers have been under attack by hoodlums.
“They have successfully kidnapped at different times over 50 people and counting and only release them after payment of huge ransoms by the family members.
“The most recent was on February 14, 2017 when seven people were kidnapped from a poultry farm.
“As we speak, they are yet to be released and the kidnappers are asking for a huge ransom for their release.
“We have engaged the police and the response has been poor with minimal results as each attack by the hoodlums has been effortlessly successful.
“On this note, we the farmers of Igbodu/Isiwo Road are planning to have a peaceful protest at Alausa, in Ikeja on February 20, 2017 to make our grievances and helplessness known to the governor.
“The Governor Ambode, who also happens to be an indigene of Epe, needs to come to our aid.
“To make the right impact, we are imploring all our fellow farmers to join us for this cause on the said day.
“Remember that most farms are usually located outside cities and if this trend is not immediately curbed it will spread.”
