Travellers along the Ado-Akure road were stranded for hours on Monday following protest by residents of Irede community, Ajebandele Area of Ado-Ekiti metropolis over the alleged kidnapping of a pastor, Julius Osunluyi, in the area on Sunday evening by suspected abductors.

The placard-carrying protesters blocked the highway, causing gridlock on traffic jams in the axis for almost four hours.

Commuters coming into Ado Ekiti from either Akure or Ikere and those traveling out of the Metropolis were trapped with their vehicles due to the blockade by visibly angered protesters

The Hausa people resident at the Muslim dominated Shasha area of Ikere Ekiti, had to disembark from their cars and motorbikes and trekked over two kilometres to get to the praying grounds at Ajilosun.

Gun-wielding men, suspected to be kidnappers, were said to have besieged the Pastor’s church on Sunday evening and abducted him.

Addressing the people, one of the protesters, who identified himself as Ajayi Olayiwola, said the protest became imperative to compel the Police Division at Ologede Police Station to provide the necessary security for the populace in the area.

Olayiwola accused the policemen operating in the area of laxity, saying several entreaties made to them to extend patrol to the area were rebuffed for no stated reason.

He added that over five cases of kidnappings had been witnessed in the area in the last three months, describing the situation as terrifying and disturbing.

He said some of the kidnapping and robbery cases witnessed in the area could have been averted, if the police had extended their patrol to the axis.

“The state of insecurity in the Irede community area is alarming as we could no longer sleep with our two eyes closed. This protest was to call the attention of appropriate authorities to find a solution to the ugly development, particularly the police.

“This disruption of free flow of vehicles is to send a signal to the public about our plight and for the police Command to do the right thing,” he said.

Ekiti Police Public spokesman Sunday Abutu said the Command has swung into action and had started investigating the Pastor’s alleged kidnapping.

He said Police Commissioner, Mr Moronkeji Adesina, had ordered intensive patrol day and night in the area and across Ekiti to stem the tides of criminality.

“The police in Ekiti are not taking anything to chances. We are doing our best to tackle crime and criminality. The CP had ordered our patrol teams and team of detectives to up their games and ensure that those perpetrating crimes are brought to book.

“If you notice, our night patrol has increased. And the CP had urged the Rapid Response Squad to trail the alleged kidnappings and bring the man out from their den hale and hearty,” Abutu said. (New Telegraph)

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