Every state has its own form of difficulties and challenges depending on the rate at which the government has invested in the development of the country. we have different sectors in the society that demands improvement mostly the transportation sector due to its role in individual daily activities. From a state transportation system you could sense the rate of development in such country.
I have experienced all kind of transportation system in different states in Nigeria most especially Lagos and Ogun State. For the past few months now I have been residing in a different community known as Owotoro in Oyo state, I didn't come across this community by accident I was posted here to undergo my one year service as part of the requirements of NYSC. This neighbourhood is like any other have seen since I was born, it is a rural community suffering from a lot of challenges one of it is transportation issue.
When I say transportation issue you might think I'm talking about bad roads or probably the issue of ticket collectors that is currently plaguing most communities in Lagos State but it is not any of that. The way of life of people in this community is not something you can just imagine or else you are a fan of Nollywood {Yoruba} movies most especially the ones with village sequence. The way of life of people around here is peaceful, I mean I could count everyone in this community in a day if I'm determined. For a peaceful community such as this you might wonder what kind of transportation issue might they be experiencing.
Among different kind of challenges plaguing this community the first on the line is the issue of banditry. Banditry is one of the security challenges we are currently facing in Nigeria, when I was in Lagos I only here of it but never have I been in close proximity with where it occurs. I mean it is easy to imagine all kind of James Bond or mission impossible where you see life action between law enforcement agencies and terrorist/bandit, well here I'm watching it live and direct.
As a result of the issue of banditry in this community it has become more difficult to make use of their highways during specific time in a day. There are different kind of law enforcement agencies mounting different checkpoint on the roads and they are fully armed but then they can't stay there all day. At some point few officers close for the day reducing the number of checkpoints on the roads. The major road that this bandits have chosen as their hotspot is the road that links ATISBO local government to Saki, Ibadan and Oyo town. Owotoro community, a sector of ATISBO local government Which happens to be where I reside currently exist between Saki and Ibadan/Oyo town, The major cities in Oyo state.
These bandits are aware of the fact that the villagers needs to make use of the highway to transport their farm products to the city and also travelers needs to make use of this road to travel down to ATISBO local government. The most tragic thing about this road is that it is a clean road that past through hundreds of acres of tall trees and bushes. Making it easier for the bandits to kidnap, rob and rape travellers and vanish into the bush.
This has reduced the rate of goods going in and out of my community, resulting to the price of goods and services skyrocketing beyond anything you can imagine. I wouldn't blame them because resources are scarce. There are times when we corp members are advised not to wear our NYSC khaki while traveling to avoid being targeted. Apart from banditry, roods here are good enough to the standard of a rural area.
It is no doubt that security agencies around here are trying their best, believe me no bandit would dare attack anyone in the afternoon. We have hundreds of checkpoints filled with armed soldiers on this road but eventually they will have to return to their barracks. It is not safe for them to remain in the checkpoints at night in their cars, the odds are not favorable. I believe mounting army barracks along this axis would make it a lot easier for the soldiers to patrol the roads easily.
At the federal level, I believe it is high time we find a way to regulate the rate at which these bandits import weapons for personal use. Sincerely speaking soldiers around here are risking their lives a lot compared to others in the city, these bandits are known to carry sophisticated weapons that supercede some of the weapons being used by security agencies around here. It is always a bloody battle whenever there is a clash between the bandits and security agencies around here.
And lastly, there is need to provide security agencies around here with enough resources in terms of weapons in order to stand a chance against these bandits. It doesn't make any sense if a bandits is going around with weapons that are far superior to the ones being used by security operatives most especially the local security agency known as Amotekun. I have seen few of this operatives who are meant to protect the villagers going around with hunters gun and cutlass. And I'm like "May God have mercy on our souls"
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled "Public transportation" in hive learners community.
Cover image - 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗏𝖺
All images are mine or else stated otherwise
