Lagos no-go-area for your activities, Obas tell vandals, kidnappers

· Laud Ambode, security agencies over rescued monarch

Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs led by Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I, on Tuesday warned vandals and kidnappers to steer clear of the state and also commended the efforts of the state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, and the security agencies on the successful rescue of the Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni.

Oba Akiolu said this at the Lagos House, Ikeja when he and his colleagues were on a visit to the governor to commend him for the role he played towards the rescue of the Oniba of Iba.

Akiolu while sounding a note of warning to kidnappers, stated that the security apparatus in the state had been fortified to wage war against every form of criminality anywhere in the state.

“It is in their interest to desist and look for other legal ventures to make ends meet. The mere fact that the economy appears not to be okay does not mean that you resort to criminality. Everybody is at alert now, we are on their trail now and with the encouragement given by the Chief of Naval Staff, the NSA and the IGP, they will be tracked down to anywhere they are,” he said.

The monarch also said, “we thank God almighty for sparing our lives to enable us see today and for bringing one of us back home, Oba Oniba, who was kidnapped. We have come to say a big thank you to the Governor of Lagos State, the Commissioner of Police, DOC 81 Division, the SSS and all other security forces and the entire Lagos State and Nigerians in general for the valuable information given to the police, which led to the successful operation which brought our colleague back.”

Responding, Governor Ambode said that the state government after learning of the incident deployed its security intelligence to unravel the circumstances surrounding the kidnap of Oba Oseni.

The monarch, however, urged traditional rulers in the state to see the incident as a call for greater attention to be paid to security, noting that the business of protecting lives and property should not be left to the security agencies alone.

“We are happy because the governor did very well and the commissioner of police. All the security agencies, even the navy, they did all that they could do but we still have to be at alert. Everybody must be prepared like the motto of the Boys Scout says; we are not going to take things for granted now,” Oba Akiolu said.

Governor Ambode, while commending Oba Akiolu and other members of the traditional institution in the state for the support and concern during the period, assured them that such incident would never occur in the state again.