Residents of Ogbomoso, on Monday, held a peaceful rally to call the attention of government to the increasing state of insecurity in the town.
The protest was in reaction to the recent kidnap and murder of Mr Gbenga Owolabi a US-based hotelier; Rachael Opadele, 500level student of LAUTECH and okada rider.
The peaceful protest which was championed by Ogbomoso Consultative Council and Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum started at Takie Square, Ogbomoso and moved round the town and later converge on Soun Ogunlola Hall.
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Some of the protesters displayed placards with various inscriptions such as ”Come to our rescue before we start self defense”, “Allow us to defend ourselves”, among others.
At the rally, traditionalists, members of Oodua Peoples Congress, Agbekoya, Vigilante Group of Nigeria and other groups said they are ready to give it wherever it takes to stop the criminal activities in Ogbomoso and its environs.
A representative of the traditional heads, Mogaji and chiefs while adressing the crowd said they were taking to necessary steps on the matter.
He also urged residents to coperate with the OPC, Amotekun and other indigenous security outfits in their efforts to combat crimes in Ogbomoso.
Some of the personalities who adressed the crowd including Imam Ile Yoruba, Retired AIG Sheu Babalola, Retired AIG Ajani, CAN Chairman Ogbomoso, Representative of Chief Imam of Ogbomoso. Iyaloja of Ogbomoso, Lamiju Alao Akala and others in their remarks said efforts were going underneath to improve on the security of lives and property in the town and urged residents to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement to the appropiate authorities.
President of Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum, Revd Peter Olaleye, while addressing the crowd of protesters at Ogunlola Hall said, “Our ancestors were brave and bold; they were never conquered by any war not even the dreaded Fulani war. We will never allow any intruder to take over our land; enough is enough.”
Some of the protesters who spoke with newsmen said they wanted the government to fish out the killers of the hotelier and the LAUTECH student as well as abductors of other people.
