Rescued Ogun victims urge FG to equip, support police

Victims of a kidnapping incident around Ogbere in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, who were rescued by the Ogun and Lagos State joint security operation codenamed “Operation Kosaye”, have called on the Federal Government to do more to equip the police and improve their welfare.

Mr Jimoh Gbadamosi and a lady who simply identified herself as Temiloluwa made the call on Saturday while speaking to journalists at the Police Training School, Iperu-Remo.

Mr Gbadamosi and Temiloluwa were among the five victims rescued by Operation Kosaye from kidnappers in the Ogbere forest on Friday.

Temiloluwa said she is an IT officer with a private company in Edo State and was travelling to Lagos to observe her annual leave when their vehicle ran into the waiting arms of kidnappers around Ogbere.

She explained that, “The incident happened on Thursday, June 25, I was actually traveling with two other seniors officers, we are all working in the same company. The man who drove us is a senior manager while the one who sat in the front is an Engineer. I was actually going home to enjoy my leave.

“On getting to Ogbere around 4pm, we just heard sporadic gunshots, there was a vehicle in front of us and another one was behind us. In the ensuing confusion, the vehicles began to hit one another and that was how I knocked my head against the front seat and one of my teeth was removed.

“The man that drove the vehicle was able to escape but the Engineer who sat at the front would have also escaped but when he looked back and saw that I was already covered with blood he found it difficult to run away.

“They later collected all that was on me, my bracelet, wristwatch and some cash. They later marched us into the bush, we trekked for about four hours inside the bush. Later they told us to call our families and they were demanded for N20m. However on Friday around 4pm or so, we just heard gunshots and the kidnappers began to run away.

“We were not too sure of what was happening, we were scrambling for safety, later one of us summoned up courage and found out that it was actually the police, it was the last thing I could ever believe.

“We have always thought that the police are not working but sincerely when I got outside the bush and saw the police in their numbers, I was completely speechless because I had already thought that I was not going to survive the incident. I have even prayed to God to please grant me access to his kingdom in case I died.

“Seeing the police coming to our rescue really beat my imagination. And since they have rescued us they have been taking good care of us. I will use this medium to call on both the federal and state government to please do so much more for the police, there is the need to improve on their remuneration and other allowances.

“They should be properly equipped and everything about their welfare should be top-notch because these are the people risking their lives so that we can live. The government must gallantly rise up to do what is necessary to continue to boost the morale of the police so that they can do more for the citizens’.”

Also speaking, Mr Gbadamosi hailed the timely intervention of the police, saying it was quite unbelievable that they could be rescued within 24 hours.

He explained that, “I could not have believed that this prompt rescue by the police could happen in Nigeria, it was something one wouldn’t have believed is possible. The police that came to rescue us were more than 300.

“I think we have to change our orientation towards the police because they are only putting their lives at risk for us to live. Come rain, come shine, the police are there.

“The Federal Government must improve on the welfare of the police. Some police will retire and will not receive their pension, some will die in active service and to get commensurate compensation will be difficult, all of these must change. The police must be properly equipped and be supported by everyone for enhanced security for all.”