Senate Urges Security Force To Secure Lagos Creeks, Other Parts From Kidnappers, Militants As Ashafa Moves Motion On Insecurity 

Following the recent increase in the activities of Militants and Kidnappers in the Lagos East Senatorial District, one of which occurred on Sunday 9^th April, 2017 costing the lives of One Military Captain, Two other rank soldiers, four policemen, and a civilian, the Senator Representing the District in the National Assembly, Senator Gbenga Ashafa today moved a motion on “the Urgent need for the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies to intervene in the increased rate of kidnapping In the Lagos East Senatorial District And securing the waterways”.

The Senator, noted with urgent and grave concern the recent increase in the activities of criminal syndicates who specialize in kidnapping/militant activities in and around communities Kosofe, Epe, Ikorodu, Ibeju Lekki Local Government Areas of Lagos State

Ashafa while moving his motion, expressed concern that the activities of these criminals have forced law-abiding residents of coastal/riverine communities of the affected communities to flee their communities and livelihood out of fear. He sited the example of HRM, Kabiyesi Onise of Ise, Oba Ganiyu Adegbesan who has had to vacate the community due to the level of insecurity in the area.

While listing some of the recent activities of the criminals, the Senator brought to the attention of his colleagues the case of One Mr. Ademola Salami, a 42 Year Old plank dealer who was kidnapped on Friday, 7^thApril, 2017 in Ise community in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos East Senatorial District by Seven dare devil abductors, who escaped in a gunboat via the river.  The abductors have now demanded the sum of 100 million Naira as ransom for his release.

In identifying some of the challenges of insecurity faced by the communities, Ashafa noted that for the past seven years, a divisional Police station commissioned in Ise had been a ghost of itself as no police officers were deployed there until the recent attack.

Laying a case for the urgent need to beef up the strength of the marine police, Ashafa reminded the Nigerian Senate that between April and July, 2016 there were reports of Militant activities in some communities in Ikorodu, including Elepete, Agbede, Ishawo and Igbo-Olomu, which led to the death of residents. These Militants’ were equally reported to have stormed the communities through the creeks using gunboats.