The Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government and spokesperson for the Kwara State chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Alhaji Femi Yusuf, has revealed that more than 70 kidnappers have been prosecuted and sent to the Correctional Centre in Ilorin.
Speaking to journalists in Ilorin on Wednesday, Yusuf highlighted the persistent security challenges in Ifelodun, the largest local government in the state, which records the highest number of abduction and criminal cases.
“So far, over 70 kidnappers have been prosecuted and sent to the Correctional Facility in Ilorin, and we are not relenting on our efforts,” he said.
The council chairman expressed deep concern over the role of informants, which he described as a major obstacle in combating kidnappings. According to him, “There’s moral decay among our people, and this has made the challenge of informants—who are aiding kidnappings—insurmountable. Our people sell their own kinsmen for the sake of money. Despite every measure we have taken, it’s really very disturbing.”
Yusuf urged parents and guardians to teach their children that life is not all about money, particularly blood money, and stressed the need for collective efforts to curb criminality.
He also highlighted challenges in tracking non-native residents, noting that attempts to register them for better security monitoring were sabotaged by some residents, especially Fulanis, who feared being ostracized.
Expressing frustration over ongoing kidnappings, Yusuf noted that one of the monarchs in the area, Alhaji Kamilu Salami, the Ojibara of Bayagan Ile, has remained in the captivity of his abductors for the past twenty days.
The local government continues to call on communities to cooperate with security agencies to ensure peace and safety in Ifelodun and the wider Kwara State.
