Suspected militants
on Monday attacked the security team of the Ogun Deputy Governor, Chief Mrs
Yetunde Onanuga at Ibafo.
The militants engaged Onaguga’s security team in
gun battle when she embarked on an inspection visit to some borderline
communities between Ogun and Lagos states sacked by militants.
Onanuga, who visited Imushin, Elepete and
Igbo-Olomu communities, reassured the residents of the
commitment of the authorities to protect their lives and property.
The suspected militants however, began shooting at
the security operatives who accompanied the deputy governor at Akoka Ebute area
of Ibafo, in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area.
However, the gun battle which lasted for about 20
minutes, did not record any casualty.
Traditional rulers from the affected communities had earlier held a meeting with the
Secretary to the Government of Ogun State (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa, in Abeokuta.
The outcome of the meeting spurred the government
to send a delegation, led by the deputy governor to visit the affected
communities.
As the advance security team led by the service
chiefs was approaching Ibafo Creeks, where the suspected militants were
believed to be hiding, a barrage of gunfire ensued, forcing the law enforcement
agents to take cover.
The security operatives, comprising soldiers and
policemen, responded immediately and repelled
the suspected militants, who later retreated deeper into the creeks and
escaped.
The delegation later made a detour from the troubled area after the
deputy governor had assured the residents of commitment to their safety.
Reacting to the gun battle, the SSG expressed
concern over the deteriorating security situation in the affected communities
and called for urgent Federal Government’s assistance.
He said the exchange of gunfire between the security operatives and the criminal
”in broad daylight” was regrettable.
“It is a thing of regret that things have gone so
bad in our country; at this level, the teams led by the deputy governor of the
state were not able to have access to a part of our
state.
“It means that without mincing words, the Federal
Government needs to get involved in this.
“This is something that is beyond the capacity of
the police. We need military task force like the one we have in Niger Delta;
it’s necessary and desirable.
“As we can see in Elepete, Igbo-Olomu and Imagbon,
nothing can be compared with the violence here in Ibafo,” Adeoluwa said.
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