Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed his readiness to rally all security apparatus available to fight and flush out criminal elements who might want to make Ekiti a killing field and a safe haven for blood -sucking criminals.
The State government, according to Oyebanji will also reinvigorate the local security outfits to work in synergy with conventional security networks to break the ranks of those perpetrating heinous crimes in the facets of kidnapping, banditry and killings in the state.
Governor Oyebanji gave these assurances while addressing Ekiti people in a statewide broadcast aired on Tuesday night, in response to Monday’s gruesome murder of two monarchs by armed men along Oke Ako-Irele road and abduction of some primary school pupils in Emure Ekiti.
During the attack, the two royal fathers, the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Olatunde Olusola, were brutally murdered by the marauders; while the Alara of Ara (Ikole),Oba Sunday Adebayo O Fatoba,escaped the murderous attack narrowly.
Oyebanji said most saddening to him was the fact that he was just emerging from a security council meeting, where strategic and far reaching measures were taken on how to make Ekiti retain its status as the most peaceful and investment- friendly state in the country.
The Governor appealed to the residents not to despair by the horrible trend of events, saying all hands are on the plough to track down the perpetrators of the horrendous acts.
Oyebanji said: “The death of these vibrant, energetic and progressive monarchs is very sad and distressing for me, personally. Before their demise, I enjoyed a very cordial relationship with them in their pursuit of accelerated development for their communities. I have enormous respect for them for their service and commitment to the prosperity of Ekiti at large. May their souls rest in peace.
“Similarly, just same yesterday, we received another disturbing news that some pupils of the Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary School, Emure-Ekiti and their teachers who were being conveyed home after school, were waylaid and kidnapped between Emure-Ekiti and Eporo. Security agents are currently working hard to rescue them unhurt.
“As your Governor, this new turn of event in our dear State is a very devastating and sad one for me; this is because security has always held a significant priority in our administration and this can be seen in our State being consistently adjudged one of the most peaceful with low crime rate in the entire Federation.
“I have therefore challenged the security agencies with a firm instruction to fish our the soulless murderers who committed this heinous sacrilege on the soil of Ekiti.
“As a follow up to this, Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was on a long call with me yesterday, to commiserate with the State and to give a firm assurance that everything will be done to ensure such a dastardly act never repeats itself. He is mobilizing security resources to help in bringing the killers to book and in rescuing the abducted children and their teachers.
“I am very thankful to the President for his solidarity and support at this time. I have also visited the concerned communities and the Chairman of Traditional Council to commiserate and also re-assure them of Government’s strong resolve to confront this ugly trend.
“Ekiti Kete, while these occurrences can be distressing, we should not despair or waver in our steel resolve to work together to fight all violent crimes. As the evil men are unrelenting, we too have to collectively confront their evil enterprise with all the resources in our behest.
“We must all collaborate to share intelligence and organize community based security arrangement to complement the State’s security apparatus. As part of effort to ensure this does not happen again, we will strengthen our supports for the security agencies by further enhancing their capacity through the provision of high grade equipment.
“We will also strengthen our community based security organizations and other relevant individuals to fashion out a sustainable and workable system to confront this evil monster once and for all. Be assured of your security, even, as we all should be vigilant and security conscious”, the Governor added.
