……As Agency parades 31 kidnappers, other suspects in Akure.
By: Ade Adeleke
In the spirit ofbrotherhood, the Commander of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, who is also the Chairman of Amotekun Commanders in the Southwest region, today said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has ordered that some officers of the Ondo State Security agency should be deployed to Ekiti state in rescuing kidnapped school children at Emure Ekiti.
While Parading 31 suspected kidnappers and other criminals in Akure, the state Capital on wednesday, Chief Adeleye said the step to join forces with Ekiti state security operatives to rescue the children and their teachers was directed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa immediately the incident occurred.
The Amotekun Commander insisted that approving Community police cum state police is the lasting solution to insecurity in the country.
Recall that some gunmen suspected to be herdsmen, on Monday, killed two traditional rulers in Ekiti State.
The duo, Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olushola, in Oye Local Government Area and Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin, in Ajoni, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, were attacked by the gunmen while retuning from a meeting, while the Alara of Ara-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, escaped from the scene.
Also gunmen had same day abducted six pupils and three teachers of a private school in Emure, headquarters of Emure Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
Confirming the abduction on Tuesday, January 30, the Ekiti State Government said the school bus driver was also kidnapped, bringing the total to 10.
A statement by the government quoted the state Governor Biodun Oyebanji as describing the kidnap as callous and unacceptable.
The Security chief who acknowledged that crimes nationwide are becoming more sophisticated, with kidnapping for ransom, killings, cultism, cybercrimes, drug abuse, human trafficking, and other vices, said the federal government must support State governments to set up local police that will be assisting other conventional security agencies to tackle criminalities in the country.
Adeleye, who frowned at the ugly kidnapping incidents in Ekiti said; “a couples of hours ago, we had an unfortunate situation in Ekiti State and the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa directed that we should moved to the state in the interest of brotherliness to assist in the security situation in Ekiti State.
“We deployed about 100 personnel to Ekiti State to assist them and we have been there in the last 48-hours, some arrest have been made and investigation is still on going on those that we arrested and we will continue to arrest until the perpetrators of such that deadly acts are fished out.
“So, today we have again 31 suspects that engages in different nefarious and criminal acts, gathered in 18 local government areas of the state. Across board, we have suspected kidnappers, we have those that were arrested for illegal possession of firearms in the forest reserves, and we have those that specialises in breaking of shops and houses.
“What we need to assure the people is that Ondo State Security Network Agency will not relent in it efforts in getting out all these criminals in our society.
“The government of Ondo State under the leadership of Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa has directed that to the last criminals in Ondo state must be checked out and removed this is because the government is resolute in it determination in ensure that investors, farmers, residents, commuters are not molested.
“We want to reassure the good people of Ondo State that Amotekun is intact, we will continue our 24-hours patrol, we will continue to track all criminals from the cities to the forestry reserves and ensure that travellers are not molested.
“So I want to reassure the good people of Ondo State that there is no problem, the state is safe, they can continue their normal businesses but they have a duty to play and the duty is to report any suspicious movement to us on time so that we can take action on time before it gets out of hands.
“In Ondo State if you are coming to hunt, or if you are coming for any activities in the forestry reserves, please ensure you follow the lay down regulations that allows you to enter into the forestry reserves of Ondo State.
“The straight solution to this insecurity in the country especially in the SouthWest is for the Federal Government to put in place the grassroots state police. With state policing, we will be able to go grassroots, and it will be easy for us to track down all these criminals in our society.
“The panacea to solving the security breaches and problems is the state policing,” Adeleye said.