Fish farmers in Ogun State have decried the growing insecurity challenge in the state marked by abductions of innocent residents by some armed hoodlums and have therefore called on Gov Dapo Abiodun as well as the new acting Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu to rise up gallantly to the occasion.
The fish farmers under the aegis of Ijebuland Fish Farmers condemned the recent abduction of one of them, one Mr Adams Omamegbe and five other women who came to buy fish at Omamegbe's farm at Alayo Fish Farm Cluster, Agoro, via Ijebu Ode in Odogbolu Local Government area of the state.
They alleged that Omamegbe and the five abducted women were only released five days after paying N70M ransom.
The fish farmers said that this ugly incident has left all of them troubled as they do not know who next will fall victim of these rampaging and gun wielding criminals.
The farmers have therefore begged for government urgent intervention to comb the vast forest of the agrarian community and flush out the armed kidnappers.
Addressing journalists on Thursday at Alayo Fish Farm Cluster, Agoro, the spokeperson of the association, Mr Eko John Nicholas said that "We are here today to draw attention to the deteriorating security conditions in Ikangba/ Agoro axis in particular and Ijebuland in general.
"Citizens including fish farmers’ now live in palpable fears, as those entrusted with guaranteeing security seemed to have turned a blind eye to the plights of poor farmers, workers and the poor mass majority"
He explained further that "for instance on Monday 9th February, 2026, at Alayo Fish Farm Cluster, in Ikangba/Agoro axis, a criminal gang numbering about six and armed with deadly weapons abducted a fish farmer, a female worker and three women who came to buy fish
"These abductors whom the victims recounted kept them in the bush nearby, less than two to three kilometers away from the point of their abduction, successfully negotiated and collected N70m as ransom before releasing them along the same Old Lagos-Benin Road just less than one kilometer from the farm where they were originally kidnapped!
"They were released at night on Friday 13th February, 2026, after five days in their den. This notwithstanding, the Ogun State Police Command under Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo has maintained a pin-drop silence"
Nicholas said that the fish farmers however observed that the recent abduction is not an isolated case as their had been similar security breaches in not too distant past
He stated that "about three years ago, a member of our association from Kajola Fish Farmers Cluster, was murdered in cold blood on this same route, very close to Alayo Fish Farm.
"About two years ago, a fish farmer was kidnapped from his farm at Ijebu Igbo, on New year Eve. He was killed by his abductors after payment of N15 ransom, and buried him in shallow grave.
"Few months ago, a worker was abducted in one of the quarries along Ijebu Ode-Ibadan Road. Few weeks later, a poultry farmer in that same axis was also abducted at Iperin village and later freed after the family paid a ransom of N50m only"
Given this spate of insecurity across the state, and the recent aforementioned abduction in the Ikangba/Agoro axis, Nicholas said that the residents especially the fish farmers now live in palpable fears, as atmosphere of uncertainty pervades the various fish farmer clusters.
He explained that "It is against this aforementioned growing insecurity that the fish farmers in the state and Ijebu land in particular are calling on Gov Dapo Abiodun, the new acting Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu as well as the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo to urgently come to our rescue.
The farmers demanded thorough investigations of the recent abduction with a view to getting these kidnappers arrested, prosecuted and jailed to serve as deterrent to others criminally minded individuals.
They equally called for payment of compensation to all the victims including hospital bills, as they have been deprived of their livelihoods due to humongous sum of N70m paid as ransom.
The farmers urged the police to improve on their intelligence gatherings by patrolling vulnerable communities along the Old Lagos-Benin Road.
They also called for massive public investments in agriculture and other social sectors to create employment opportunities for the unemployed youth to reduce crime rate.
In his remark, the Chairman of Ijebuland Fish Farmers Association, Mr Okole Lazarus urged the government to help with decisive action to deal with the growing insecurity in and around the state.
Mr Lazarus particularly begged the security agencies to help to comb the forest of the agrarian community to flush out these bandits.
He disclosed further that "We have always heard the terrible news of rampant abduction and insecurity afar off but now it is at our backyard threatening our lives and livelihoods.
"We are sincerely begging the Gov Abiodun, President Bola Tinubu and the new IGP, Tunji Disu to rise up and help us. We want our surrounding forest combed and these hoodlums flushed out so that we can continue to contribute to our growing economy in peace".
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