Residents of Upenmenin in the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State have called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to take urgent steps to address the incessant kidnapping and violent crimes in the community.

In an open letter to the governor, the residents lamented that the community was gradually becoming a hotspot for multiple kidnapping incidents, noting that the growing insecurity threatened the lives and livelihoods of the residents.  

The residents decried the multiple kidnapping incidents in the community in recent months, with criminal elements demanding ransom.

They also noted that some residents who have fallen victim to the situation had been murdered, saying the development has created a pervasive atmosphere of fear and distrust among the locals.

“As our governor, you are aware of the increasing challenges posed by these criminal elements throughout the state,” the residents said in the letter signed by their spokesperson, Ismail Tajudeen, on Sunday.

They added, “It is therefore imperative that you direct the relevant security agencies and the Amotekun Corps to establish a base in Upenmen, allowing for a more proactive and responsive security presence in our vicinity. The establishment of this base will enhance the community’s safety and will serve as a strong deterrent to potential kidnappers.”

While urging the governor to consider their plight and take decisive action to secure the community, the residents said the government must not sleep on their advice.

Owo LGA had been soaked with violence with cult-related clashes among members of confraternities, leading to the killing of four persons, including a mother and his child, recently.

The alarming crime rate in Owo forced Mr Aiyedatiwa to declare a dawn-to-dusk curfew in the community recently, with a marching order on the security agencies, particularly the police, to go after the perpetrators.