In the face of rising kidnapping cases in Ogun State, retired Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps commandant Paul Ayeni has urged community leaders to take bold action.
In an interview on Thursday in Abeokuta, Ayeni advised leaders to make forests in their domains uninhabitable for kidnappers, who have been using them as operational bases for their criminal activities.
Ayeni, a life coach and chairman of ECOsafe Ltd., condemned the recent spate of kidnappings and killings on major highways, including the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode and Lagos-Ibadan expressways.
He emphasized the need for security operatives to collaborate with community leaders to tackle the menace.
“The forests have become hideouts for criminals, and it’s time to take action,” Ayeni said. “If we don’t address this, investors will flee the country, and our economy will suffer.”
While commending the Ogun police command for their efforts in rescuing victims, Ayeni urged community leaders to take responsibility for securing their areas.
“Some communities are located near the kidnappers’ hideouts. I implore their leaders to clear the forests and make them inhabitable for criminals. This will force the kidnappers to flee,” he said.
Ayeni also stressed the importance of addressing illicit drug consumption, which he believes fuels criminal activities.
He called for security organizations to work with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to tackle the issue.
