….RUGIPO lecturer, others escape kidnapping

In just some hours to the new year, 2019, some gunmen perceived to be kidnappers have again struck on the dreaded Akure-Owo expressway on Monday evening, killing some people as they shoot sporadically while many sustained different gunshot injuries.

The incident which was said to have started like a robbery attack happened between Uso and Ogbese axis of the roads.

Narrating her ordeal, a lecturer in the Department of Languages, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Dr. Mrs. Ayodele said she was alongside some roads travelers miraculously saved on Monday evening from kidnappers on the dreaded Akure-Owo expressway.

Dr. Mrs. Ayodele disclosed this in a message she posted on the WhatsApp group platform of RUGIPO’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, ASUP.

She said, “We just escaped armed robbery 30mins ago. This happened between Ogbese and Uso; some mins drive to Uso from Ogbese. Praise God on our behalf.

Also read: Police net 3 suspected robbers in Ondo

“We were practically face to face with death. Some people were killed, some were abducted. We had a very narrow escape.”

Confirming the incident, Mr Razak Suberu an Owo resident, who was at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo said some people that were shot by the attackers had just been brought to the medical center as at press time.

Reacting to the incident, Dr. Raman Abubakri of the Department of Mass Communication, RUGIPO called on government to find a lasting solution to the incessant kidnappings and robbery on the roads.

He stressed that the Soldiers’ Fire Brigade Approach is not the solution, saying provision should be made for soldiers to be constant on the notorious roads, besides, the tick bushes at the both sides of the roads should be cleared for about 100 meters from the main roads, Abubakri added.

Dr. Raman is of the opinion that these measures will checkmate the boldness of the criminals who are now desperate to make money at all cost.

Also read: CRIME: Two arrested for kidnapping in Ondo

It could be recalled that kidnapping have been on the increase in the axis in recent times even leading to the death of a staff of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

As a result of this, different non governmental organisation have alleged the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adeyanju and his officers of aiding crimes in the State, thereby petitioned Police IG for his romoval.

And since then, government beefed up security on the road with police stationed at strategic places as well as allegedly combing some kidnappers hideouts in Owo where some suspects were said to have been arrested.