The traditional ruler of Iwoye-Ketu in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Isaac Oyero, has decried the lack of adequate security presence in the community, saying it has made it difficult to check criminal activities around the border town and its environs.
Oyero also condemned the recent attack on operatives of the Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service at Akokoro, one of the villages under Iwoye-Ketu, during which two officers were injured, noting that the incident further highlighted the insecurity challenges in the area.
The monarch disclosed this in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Abel Babatunde, and made available to journalists on Sunday.
Oyero explained that the community had for years been at the mercy of various criminal elements, including armed herders, armed robbers and kidnappers, who terrorise its population of over 25,000 people, according to the 2006 census.
The royal father said the community currently has only three poorly equipped police officers, adding that the semblance of security in the border community and its environs was largely provided by police officers from the Republic of Benin stationed in areas belonging to the Francophone country.
He said the community has vast border spaces, abandoned farmlands and forest reserves that are largely ungoverned and under-policed, noting that over the years, these areas have become hideouts and transit routes for criminal elements, some of whom operate across national borders.
The monarch, who described the recent attack on Customs operatives as barbaric and unacceptable, called for a comprehensive investigation to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to justice.
“While it is an open secret that cross-border trade in items such as rice and fuel exists along this corridor — as is the case in many Nigerian border towns — the allegation that a 12-tyre truck was transporting illicit drugs through our area is shocking and alien to the history and character of Iwoye-Ketu”, the monarch said.
He said such a large-scale and dangerous criminal enterprise does not reflect the values, activities or traditions of the residents, and therefore called on the Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and bring those responsible to book.
The monarch stated, “For decades, the people of Iwoye-Ketu have repeatedly called on governments at all levels to strengthen security presence in our area. We have suffered attacks ranging from armed robbery to kidnapping and even the killing of farmers by armed herders.
“At present, the entire community — home to over 25,000 people based on the 2006 census — is being served by only three poorly equipped police officers, while a newly built police station remains largely unoccupied due to logistical constraints. This vacuum has left large parts of our territory dangerously exposed.
“The unfortunate reality is that the porosity of the Iwoye-Ketu border allows foreign criminal elements to move in and out with relative ease, taking advantage of the limited presence of Nigerian security agencies. Ironically, much of the security stability presently enjoyed in some parts of the area is due to the well-equipped Beninese police force stationed on the Republic of Benin side of the border, rather than within Nigeria itself.
“The nearest Nigerian security response point is in Imeko, about 20 kilometres away, while some affected border areas are much farther and practically unreachable during emergencies. In view of this latest incident, we once again appeal to the Federal Government and all relevant security authorities to urgently establish a fully equipped and operational security base in Iwoye-Ketu, similar to what exists on the Beninese side.
“This will not only protect our people but also strengthen Nigeria’s border security and disrupt the activities of transnational criminal networks. Iwoye-Ketu remains a peaceful, law-abiding and patriotic community. We stand with the Nigeria Customs Service and all lawful security agencies in their efforts to combat crime, and we reaffirm our readiness to continue working with them to keep our land safe.”
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