Protesters consisting of majorly youths who are joined by other segments of society in Ogbomosho town on Monday stormed the streets of Ogbomoso to call the Oyo State Government attention to addressing the increasing spate of insecurity in the town.
The protest was a reaction to the recent kidnapping and murder of US based hotelier, Gbenga Owolabi and Rachael Opadele, a 500-level student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH).
The peaceful protest, organized by Ogbomoso Consultative Council and Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum began at Takie Square, Ogbomoso and moved round the town before converging at Soun Ogunlola Hall in the OjaIgbo area which is the center of the ancient town.
Addressing the protesters, a representative of the traditional heads and chiefs, said they were taking necessary steps on the matter, urging residents to cooperate with OPC, Amotekun and other indigenous security agencies towards combating crimes in Ogbomoso and environs.
Some personalities, who addressed the crowd, including Imam ile Yoruba, Retired AIG Sheu Babalola , Retired AIG Ajani, CAN Chairman Ogbomoso, House Of Representatives candidate for Ogbomosho North, South Federal Constituency, Hon.Lamiju Alao Akala and others said efforts were ongoing underneath to improve on the security of lives and properties in the town, urging residents to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement to the appropriate authority.
President of Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum, Rev Peter Olaleye, said: “Our ancestors are brave and bold, they were never conquered by any war not even the dreaded Fulani war. We will never allow any intruder to take over land enough is enough.”
Ogbomosho was founded by warriors led by Soun Ogunlola and the ancient town has had three Aare Ona Kakanfos (Yoruba traditional chieftaincy title for Generalissimo) hailing from the town. Former Premier of Western Region, Chief Ladoke Akintola and Benjamin Adekunle (Black Scorpion) as well as many other Generals are from Ogbomoso and is why descendants of the town refer to it as the “Town Of Valiants”.
Historically, Ogbomosho has been a bulwark against invasion of Yorubaland by invaders and was never captured. Residents of the town are clamouring for such brevity by thier ancestry to be displayed by present descendants to protect the town and it’s people from criminals.
– Bello Akinkunmi Yakub
