By Sola Rotimi
The Oke-Ode Community Development Association, OCDA, in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State has called on the Federal Government to urgently establish an Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camp in the town.
The call became necessary following the recent surge in banditry and terrorism around Oke-Ode, which has led to a large influx of refugees into the community.
The National President of OCDA, Alhaji Ajala Bello, stated that the IDP camp is necessary to prevent overcrowding and overstretching of the town’s limited resources.
He warned that if the situation continues unchecked, it could lead to the outbreak of epidemic diseases.
In recent weeks, several villages surrounding Oke-Ode have come under heavy attacks by bandits and kidnappers.
The attackers overran the communities, killing and maiming innocent residents, while survivors fled in large numbers, seeking refuge in nearby towns, with Oke-Ode becoming the immediate destination.
Addressing newsmen in Ilorin, the OCDA National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kunle Akogun, explained that the association’s National President also called on the government to urgently establish a military base in the community.
He noted that such a base would help flush out bandits and kidnappers terrorizing the area, which he described as an important economic zone in Kwara State.
The association further appealed to the government to set up a cattle ranch in the community as a long-term solution to recurring farmers-herders clashes.
It stressed that these clashes have escalated into widespread banditry and kidnapping, making life very difficult for the people.
Alhaji Ajala Bello emphasized that the Oke-Ode community has enough land to accommodate the ranch and that the people would gladly welcome such a development.
Edited by Azeezat Hambali
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