Call for security boost as assailants target OPC member’s 80-year-old mother

A prominent member of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) under the Chief Frederick Faseun-led faction, Segun Karunwi, has called on the federal and Ogun State governments to strengthen security measures across the state and the country to curb the escalating incidents of kidnapping and murder.
Karunwi made this appeal on Saturday while reacting to a recent attack on his 80-year-old mother, who narrowly escaped an attempted assault at her residence in Wasimi, Erunbe, Abeokuta South Local Council, Ogun State, last Sunday.

In an interview with The Guardian, Karunwi recounted how assailants broke into his mother’s house on OlatunjiAyinla Street while she was away at church.

“They ransacked the house, looking for her, but fortunately, she was not at home,” he said. “They left without taking anything, but their invasion was so frightening that it has caused panic among residents, with some contemplating leaving the area.”

The incident, he noted, has left the community in fear, with many residents concerned about their safety. “The attackers forcefully broke down the main door and two windows to gain access. Thankfully, my mother was still at church when this happened,” Karunwi added.

Condemning the deteriorating security situation in Ogun State and Nigeria, Karunwi urged Governor DapoAbiodun and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritise protecting lives and property.

“I call on both the state and federal governments to deploy more resources, both in terms of human capacity and security equipment, to enhance surveillance, especially in vulnerable areas,” he urged.

The Inspector General of the OPC, Chief Adewale Sodiq, also criticised the worsening security landscape, praising Karunwi’s commitment to the group’s mission. He stressed that the government must not forget its primary responsibility of safeguarding citizens’ lives and property. “There is no excuse for any government that fails in its duty to protect its people,” Sodiq asserted.

Meanwhile, the Baale of Erunbe, Chief IsmailaIbikunle, condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on the community. He called on the state government to step up security measures to prevent residents from abandoning their homes out of fear.