How octogenarian escaped death by the whiskers in Ogun

A prominent member of the Chief Frederick Faseun-led Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Segun Karunwi, has appealed to the Federal and Ogun State governments to strengthen the security apparatus and network in the state, in particular, and the country at large, to curb the increase in kidnapping and murder cases in Nigeria.

Karunwi made the plea on Saturday while reacting to the news of his 80-year-old mother, who last Sunday, escaped being killed at her residence in Wasimi in Erunbe, Abeokuta South local government area of Ogun State, by a whisker.

Speaking with our reporter on the phone, Karunwi recalled how his mother, of Olatunji Ayinla Street in Wasimi, Abeokuta, Ogun State, was attacked by assailants who burgled the house, searching for the old woman, who was at the time at church.

“They left my mother’s house without picking a pin,” he said, adding: “The manner in which they invaded the house was so scary that some residents have started fleeing the area.”

The situation, he said, has thrown the community into fear, as residents have started contemplating relocating for fear of being the next target.

“They (assailants) reportedly broke down the main door and two windows of the building through which they gained entrance into the house. While it lasted, my mother had not returned from church. They did not take anything away from the residence,” he stated.

Karunwi, popularly called “Baba Oodua,” a prominent member of Chief Fasheun’s faction of OPC from Kosija Zone in Wasimi, Ewekoro Local Government area of the state, was a Special Assistant to former Governor Dr. Bukola Saraki of Kwara State.

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Currently in the United States of America (USA), Karunwi condemned the porous security situation in the area, Ogun State, and the country as a whole, urging Governor Dapo Abiodun and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give serious attention to the protection of lives and properties.

“If not for my mother not being at home, she would have perhaps been dead or kidnapped by now,” he said.

“I therefore call on Governor Dapo Abiodun and President Bola Tinubu to deploy more logistics to security in Ogun State and across the country respectively. They should invest more into human resources and security equipment.

“Ogun State and federal governments should also increase surveillance in the troubled areas so that evil people would not have opportunities to carry out their agenda,” he enjoined.

The Inspector General of OPC, Chief Adewale Sodiq, who commended the unwavering commitment of Hon Karunwi to the group, also condemned the development, urging Ogun State and federal governments to step up actions in ensuring adequate protection of lives and properties in the state and across the country.

Sodiq said that no excuse should be accepted from any government that failed in its primary duties of protection of lives and properties.

In his reaction, Baale of Erunbe, Chief Ismaila Ibikunle, who also condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on the community, urged the state to assist in securing the community to discourage residents from deserting their homes.