The traditional ruler of Iwoye-Ketu in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Isaac Oyero, has expressed concern over the lack of adequate security in the border community, warning that the situation has made it increasingly difficult to curb criminal activities in the area and its surroundings.
The monarch also condemned the recent attack on operatives of the Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service at Akokoro, a village under Iwoye-Ketu, during which two officers were injured. He said the incident underscored the worsening security challenges facing the community.
Oba Oyero made these remarks in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Abel Babatunde, and released to journalists on Sunday.
According to the traditional ruler, Iwoye-Ketu has for years been vulnerable to the activities of armed herders, kidnappers and armed robbers, who continue to terrorise residents in the border town, which has a population of over 25,000 people based on the 2006 census.
He disclosed that the entire community is currently served by only three poorly equipped police officers, adding that much of the existing security presence in the area is provided by police officers from the Republic of Benin, stationed across the border.
Oba Oyero noted that the community is surrounded by vast, porous border routes, abandoned farmlands and forest reserves that are largely unpoliced, making them attractive hideouts and transit routes for criminals who operate across national boundaries.
Describing the attack on Customs operatives as barbaric and unacceptable, the monarch called for a thorough investigation to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
While acknowledging the existence of cross-border trade in items such as rice and fuel, Oba Oyero dismissed allegations that illicit drugs were being transported through Iwoye-Ketu, describing such claims as alien to the history and character of the community.
“For decades, our people have appealed to governments at all levels to strengthen security in Iwoye-Ketu,” he said. “We have suffered armed robbery, kidnapping and even the killing of farmers by armed herders. Yet, we are left with only three police officers, while a newly built police station remains largely unoccupied due to logistical challenges.”
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He added that the nearest Nigerian security response point is in Imeko, about 20 kilometres away, making emergency response in many border areas extremely difficult.
The monarch therefore appealed to the Federal Government and relevant security agencies to urgently establish a fully equipped and operational security base in Iwoye-Ketu, similar to what exists on the Beninese side of the border.
According to him, such a move would not only protect residents but also strengthen Nigeria’s border security and disrupt the activities of transnational criminal networks.
Oba Oyero reaffirmed that Iwoye-Ketu remains a peaceful and law-abiding community and pledged the continued cooperation of residents with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies in the fight against crime.
