HAKEEM GBADAMOSI in this piece examines the rate of kidnappings in Ondo State and reasons traditional rulers in the state have suddenly become an endangered species.
Kidnapping in the recent years has become a major industry across Nigeria while no one seems to be on top of the situation except the kidnappers who have found the business of abduction to be more lucrative than any legal business in the country, just as it is becoming a national embarrassment.
Despite the widespread outrage against this heinous crime and diverse measures put in place by security operatives across the country, the men behind this act seemed to upgrade their various tactics day in day out to beat security personnel.
Consequently, kidnapping has continued to grow in leaps and bounds and remains the fastest way of making quick money. However in Ondo state, kidnapping has taken a new dimension with kidnappers turning their lens to traditional rulers in the state As at the last count, no fewer than five traditional rulers, who ordinarily are regarded as the custodians of traditional values and norms have become easy prey for kidnappers in the state in the last one year.
The recent abduction of the Oniyani of Iyani, Oba Joel Daodu, two weeks ago along Owo/Oba Akoko area of the state showed that the kidnappers are not ready to back down from the trade and it served as a warning to other monarchs across the state. Prior to the abduction of Oba Daodu, at least four traditional rulers have suffered the same fate in the hands of the kidnappers and none of these monarchs gained their freedom without parting away with cash or having sad and horrific tales to tell.
On September 20, 2015, the traditional head of Ilu Abo, the Olu of Ilu Abo; a small community in Akure North local government area of the state and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, was kidnapped on his birthday by some men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on his farm in Ilado, in the Akure North local government area of the state. Falae was kept in the in the bush for five days before President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to take all necessary action to ensure his safe and speedy rescue. Though Falae was rescued but he had to part with millions of naira which was used to buy his freedom.
Aside Falae, three other monarchs from the state have suffered the same fate in the hands of the kidnappers. The regent of Akungba Akoko, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon, was kidnapped by gun men last year while she was travelling to attend a programme at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and was rescued two weeks later by security operatives in the state after spending about a week as guest of her abductors.
Similarly, these men are becoming more daring, as they invaded the palace of the Laragunwa of Iwosan in Irele local government area of the state, Oba Abiodun Oyewunmi, whisking the traditional ruler away to an unknown destination and demanding ransom for the release of the traditional ruler.
The kidnappers who came through the Owena River and were said to be heavily armed, headed straight to the palace and in the full glare of the palace guards and members of the monarch’s family, forcibly dragged the monarch away from the palace without any hindrance or resistance.
Though the monarch was rescued some days later, but ransom was paid to secure his freedom.
As if this was not enough, some dare devil men sometimes early this year invaded Ikoya town in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo state and kidnapped the wife of the traditional ruler of Ikoya, Grace Faduyile. Though she was rescued 24 hours later following timely intervention of security operatives who have been trailing the hoodlums after their invasion of Ikoya palace. The kidnappers of the Queen engaged the security operatives in a gun duel leading to the death of one of the criminals while the woman returned home unhurt
Speaking on his experience in the kidnappers den, the latest prey of the kidnappers, Oba Daodu, the Oniyani of Iyani blamed the ugly development to civilization and Christianity which has made traditional rulers to lose their traditional powers unlike in the old days of his forefathers.
“The reluctance of many Obas to complete some aspects of traditional rites has made them vulnerable to attacks; not only from kidnappers but from other ugly occurrences. During our stay with the kidnappers, we drank water from the pond where cattle drink. We slept on rocks and were made to trek long distance during our captivity,” Oba Daodu said, adding that he was kidnapped alongside his second in command, the Shaba of Iyani Akoko, Olugbenga Giwa.
According to Oba Daodu, “spending the Easter period in the den of kidnappers is not an experience I would pray for even my enemies. I and my chief were dragged on the ground into the bush by the kidnappers. We kept moving for four days of our captivity; we were allowed to sit on rocks whenever we are tired. We were in the bush climbing hills sleeping on top of rocks. It was terrible I don’t even want my enemy to experience or pass through the experience. I don’t know there was Easter. The leader of the group even asked me to pray for him so that he can quit the job,” the monarch concluded.
Disturbed by the frequency of the ugly development, monarchs in the state under the auspices of De-130 Krowns Club, converged on the palace of the Owa Ale of Ikareland, Oba Kolapo Adegbite – Adedoyin, penultimate week to condemn the act and find a way out of the frequent ridicule the traditional stools in the state are being subjected to.
The monarchs during the meeting rained curses on the perpetrators of the “wicked acts” across the state, for bringing traditional stool in disrepute and submitted that the kidnappers must believe that the abduction of monarchs is bound to attract huge attention and substantial ransoms from their subjects.
Speaking with Nigerian Tribune after the meeting, the Owa Ale of Ikareland, Oba Kolapo Adegbite-Adedoyin traced the incessant attacks on traditional rulers to the loss of supernatural powers replaced by the modern beliefs and western religions. He posited that modernization and the porous selection process of monarchs in most communities have made many in Yoruba land to lose their traditional and supernatural powers that can save them in time of attacks.
Oba Adegbite-Adedoyin stated that, “It is very unfortunate that Obas had to be captured and kidnapped like hens by men of the underworld, it is even a taboo and desecration of the exalted position of an Oba in Yoruba land for anybody however highly placed to lay his hand on an Oba not to talk of kidnapping him and torturing him. It is against the tradition and such a person is going to incur the wrath of God.
“Too much of religious beliefs have taken away traditional powers of Obas hence the reason they are vulnerable to attacks like kidnapping,” he said.
The Olu of Igbokoda in Ilaje local government area of the state, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, supported the position of the Owa Ale of Ikareland, insisting that the selection, appointment and installation of Obas in Yoruba land should be taken away from the government and returned exclusively to traditionalists and kingmakers.
“The reason for unnecessary attacks on Obas is due to modernisation, you will even see that the installation system has changed compared with what obtains in the olden days. It is unfortunate that Obas now call themselves Evangelists, Reverend or Alhaji, some Obas go to night parties, this is against the tradition and whoever perpetrated these act of kidnapping will soon be visited with the wrath of God,” he said.
The monarchs at the end of the meeting called on the state government to see the present scenario playing out in the state as a challenge as any assault or disgrace to the traditional stool is indirectly a disgrace to the government while appreciating the efforts of the government in securing the freedom of Oba Daodu but appealed to the governor. Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, to set in motion a process where every Oba in Ondo state is given adequate security .
Reacting to the ugly incident in the state, the state governor, Akeredolu, warned criminal minded persons in the state to either turn a new leaf or stay off the state just as he called on youths in the state to eschew violence and engage in legitimate means of livelihood.
Governor Akeredolu said all relevant security agencies had been put on red alert to prevent recurrence of the incident and other criminal activities in the state.
However, the State commissioner of Police, Mrs Hilda Harrison, has assured that kidnapping will be a thing of the past in the state, disclosing that the state police command has drafted its men to various locations in the state to curb the activities of the kidnappers.
“Security is the business of everyone. Those who perpetrate this heinous crime live among us and I want to appeal to everyone that the Police force cannot work alone; we must synergise and get intelligence from all of you. All people that have useful information that will lead us to where these kidnappers are operating should please come to our aid and give us the very useful information,” she urged.
and then