The victims, two sisters and a man, were abducted on Friday and Sunday respectively by yet-to-be-identified gunmen who invaded their estate.

The parents of the two sisters, who were released, Mr Rashidi and Mrs Oluwalogbon Salami, were grateful to God for the safe return of their daughters.

Mrs Oluwalogbon Salami told News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, during a visit on Tuesday that the entire family was happy because not all that were kidnapped usually returned.

“We are very grateful to God for the victory He has given to our family, to God alone be the glory,” she said.

NAN correspondent observed that people were trooping into the residence of the Salamis to rejoice and congratulate them on the victory.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the victims had been released.

“The kidnapped persons have regained their freedom and had been reunited with their families,” he said.

It was gathered that the yet-to-be-identified gunmen came through the boundary between Lagos State and Ogun, and escaped with their victims inside a speed boat on Friday and Sunday respectively.

Earlier, the Financial Secretary of the landlords’ association in the area, Mr James Ojuade, told NAN that the gunmen also killed two landlords who tried to prevent them from escaping with their victims.

“The gunmen, who kidnapped the two married sisters, daughters of Mr Rashidi Salami, on Friday killed Messrs Nurudeen Olanrewaju, the Secretary of the landlords’ association and Idris Olowolayemo.

“They came again on Sunday and kidnapped one Mr. Kehinde,” Ojuade said.

A landlord, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the kidnappers demanded N15 million ransom for the release of the victims in their custody.

“They, however, released them yesterday evening, when some undisclosed amount was paid.”

The source said that their community had been deserted due to insecurity.

“Our community has been sacked, residents have abandoned their houses, and I now sleep in the church.

“The kidnappers may return to our estate as the police officers who were initially drafted to the scene of the incident had been withdrawn.

“We are no longer safe, the government should come to our aid to provide security so that the incident will not repeat itself.”

Source: NAN

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Some yet-to-be- identified gunmen  on Friday allegedly kidnapped two married women before a  repeat of the same incident on Sunday in the area.

The Financial Secretary of the Landlords’ Association in the area, Mr James Ojuade, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Sunday that the gunmen, who allegedly killed two men and kidnapped two sisters on Friday, allegedly kidnapped another man on Sunday.

He said that the gunmen came through the boundary between Lagos State and Ogun and escaped with their victims inside a boat.

“About 6.00 p.m.  on Friday, four men, who were armed with guns, broke into the residence of one Mr Rashidi Salami, beat his wife mercilessly and took away his two married daughters who came to visit them.

“Two neighbours, who intercepted and  wanted to prevent them from escaping with  the women, were shot dead, before they  escaped with their victims.

“The deceased: Messrs Nurudeen Olanrenwaju and Idris Olowolayemo were buried yesterday according to Muslim rites,” Ojuade said.

Ojuade added that the gunmen came again on Sunday at 1.00 p.m. to the building  next to where they allegedly  kidnapped the two women on Friday and kidnapped one Mr Kehinde, whom he said had just returned from church.

“Immediately Kehinde parked his car, the gunmen jumped into his compound and started shooting into his building.

“They captured him and escaped again to Ogun through a canoe.”

He called on the state  government to come to their aid and provide security for the area.

“We want the government to erect police post in Oshin to reduce criminality in the area.

“We want the police to help us rescue the three people who had been kidnapped,” he said.

Another resident, who only identified himself as Kunle said many residents had abandoned their houses in the area due to the incessant kidnappings.

“The community is now deserted as many residents had packed out of their houses for fear of the unknown.

“We can no longer sleep and close our eyes as our lives are not safe.”

He said that the parents of the two women allegedly kidnapped on Friday were currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

As at the time of filing  this report, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, was yet to respond to calls and text messages sent to his cell phones.

However, some police officers  had been drafted to the scene of the incident.

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The protest will take them to Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja and the Lagos State House.

The people who are operating under the aegis of the different Community Development Associations in  Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, said the protest was to draw the attention of the world to their plight.

The peaceful procession, the people said, would take off from the Muslim praying ground at Bada in Ayobo, and proceed to the Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area Secretariat, Ayobo.

From there, the procession will move to the Lagos State House of Assembly where the leaders of the CDAs will present a petition to the Speaker of the House,   Mudashiru Obasa, and to the Lagos State House, where the petition shall be presented to Governor Babajide Sanwoolu.

The protesters explained the situation surrounding their actions in a letter made available to FrontPage, which reads in part:

“We are accredited representatives of the people (residents and owners of real properties) of Ayobo, Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area of Lagos State. We function through our Community Development Associations (CDAs).

“These CDAs are Alaja CDA, Isokan CDA, Lala CDA, Koloba Central CDA, Onikanga Central CDA, Liberty CDA, Onikanga Phase 1 CDA, Otitoloju CDA, Progressive CDA, Treasure land CDA, Megida CDA, Megida/Kufor CDA, Bada CDA, Balogun CDA, and Great Harmony CDA.

“For over a decade, unspeakable violence has been visited on the people of Our Community and our properties by Moruf Owonla (Kaka), who for some time claimed to be acting for and on behalf of Late Ekundayo Arimiyau Bello and Princess Josephine Momoh (Late Ekundayo Arimiyau Bello’s agent), but who is now claiming to be acting in his own behalf. The theatre of this violence comprises over seventy-nine built up streets, where over 600,000 people live !

“The pretext for this incessant violence is the purported and perennial execution of a Court Judgment obtained in Suit No. ID/1722/92 (Chief Arimiyau Bello Ekundayo v. Taiwo Ogunbiyi & 12 Ors), delivered on the 29th day of October 2004, by Hon. Justice O.A. Williams of Court No. 7 in the Lands Division of the Ikeja Judicial Division of the High Court of Lagos state. Apart from the fact that land and property owners in Ayobo were not parties to the Suit leading to the Judgment, for which reason same cannot be lawfully executed against us, the judgment covering a limited land as per the judgment survey is now being used to forcibly take over the possession of lands that were not covered by the Judgment.

“In various letters and petitions, we have expressed our dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Police in the handling of our legitimate and genuine grievances against the nefarious activities of Moroof Owonla Kaka and his legion of thugs in Ayobo. These thugs seize and sell people’s land, prevent building construction, and generate endless pandemonium in the Community. Although we are being disappointed by the Police, who have refused to arrest and prosecute the land grabbers, we believe it is not too late for the Police to have a redemptive change of attitude.

“In the meantime, however, while still waiting for justice to be done to us by the Police and State authorities, we have decided, in exercise of our Constitutional rights to freedom of expression and the press and right to peaceful assembly and association, to organize and hold a one day peaceful procession and protest in the Ayobo-Ipaja Community, and at the Lagos State House of Assembly Complex on the 17th of September, 2019. The purpose of the protest is to bring the attention of the world to the plight of the Ayobo Community and underscore the urgency of our quest for justice. It is an action of civic pressure that is permissible in a democracy.”

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