A combined security team of the Joint Security Task Force, JTF in Oyo State otherwise known as Operation Burst and Western Security Network code-named Amotekun, has on Sunday launched a manhunt in Abaa, Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, in search of the killers of Opadele Rachael, the final year student of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, the hotelier and one other person.
It was gathered that there was a heavy presence of the combined security team in the community on Sunday.
Our correspondent gathered that the security invasion has led to the arrest of some suspects while arms and ammunition have been recovered.
A hotel within the community which is suspected to be the base for the criminals has been allegedly destroyed.
Also, a makeshift shop by a tea vendor popularly known as “Mai tea” was reportedly said to be used as an armoury by some of the criminals, and some guns and bullets hidden there have been uncovered by the security agents.
The commandant of Amotekun Corps in Oyo State, Colonel Olayinka Adeyanju, when contacted told journalists that: “A clearance operation is going on in the area.”
Recall that gunmen had on July 28 abducted a hotelier, Mr Olugbenga Owolabi; a final year student of LAUTECH, Rachael Opadele and killed them after collecting a N5 million ransom.
The person who took the ransom to the kidnappers escaped with injuries, but the motorcycle rider who took him to the kidnappers’ hideout, Mr Idowu Ajagbe, was also killed by the hoodlums.
Meanwhile, a former military governor of Oyo State, Major General Oladayo Popoola; Justice Afolabi Adeniran and Dr Saka Balogun, will be leading other prominent indigenes of Ogbomoso, as well as the youth of the town in a peaceful protest on insecurity in the town on Monday.
The president of Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum, Rev. Kayode Olaleye, disclosed in a statement made available to journalists that the awareness rally was to sensitise the people on the security situation and to be vigilant.
The statement read in part: “In view of the deteriorating security situation in Ogbomoso zone, as evident in recent waves of kidnapping for ransom and killing of victims, the Ogbomoso Consultative Council led by Major General Oladayo Popoola OFR (retd), Justice Afolabi Adeniran (retd) and Dr Saka Balogun in consultation with the elders of the community and in conjunction with the youths (under the aegis of the Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum), will be holding a rally to create awareness on the fear-inducing phenomenon.”