Following the kidnap of five pupils of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, and four staff members, Ondo State Command of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), codenamed Amotekun said it has deployed 100 personnel to the neighbouring state to aid the release of the victims.
On Monday, gunmen killed two Ekiti monarchs-the Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, while the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, narrowly escaped.
On the same day, six pupils, three teachers and the driver of their bus were kidnapped on their way back from school along Eporo-Ekiti road.
However, the Ondo State Commander of Amotekun, Adetunji Adeleye while parading 31 suspects arrested across the 18 council areas of the state on Wednesday said, in the spirit of brotherliness, the state governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa had directed the deployment of 100 Amotekun personnel to work with their counterpart in Ekiti to secure the release of the pupils and arrest the killers of the monarchs.
His words: “A couple of hours ago, we had an unfortunate incident in Ekiti and the governor of Ondo State directed we moved in the interest of brotherliness to assist in the security situation in Ekiti State. We deployed 100 personnel to assist Ekiti command.
“We’ve been there in the last 48 hours. Some arrest have been made and we will continue until the perpetrators of such dastardly act are arrested.”
He assured residents of Ondo State that Amotekun will continue to everything possible to ensure that lives and property are protected.
“You will recall that in the last three months, we’ve been on this. We want to reassure the people of Ondo that the state, security -wise is intact. We will continue with our 24 hours patrol, we will continue to track all criminals from the cities to the forestry reserves and ensure that travelers can move unmolested.
“So, I want to assure the good people of Ondo State that there is no problem. The state is safe. But, they have a duty to report any suspicious movement in their environment to us on time, so that we could be proactive and ensure that before it gets out of hand, this is nipped in the bud.
“We have a sudden upsurge of visitors coming in from different parts of the country, in the name of hunting. The state government had made it clear that anybody that will carry out any activity in the forestry reserves must take permission”.
On the 31 suspects paraded, Adeleye said they allegedly engaged in different nefarious and criminal act across the state.
“Across board, we have suspected kidnappers, those we arrested for illegal possession of firearms, especially those arrested in the forest reserve. We have those that specializes in breaking shops and houses. What we had assured the public is that the Ondo State Security Network Agency will not relent in its efforts in getting raid of criminals from our societies.
“The governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has directed that to the last criminal in Ondo State must be checked out. This is because the government is resolute in its determination to ensure that investors, farmers, residents, commuters carry out their businesses without molestation”.
Adeleye noted that, “a cross section of the suspected criminals we have here today will show that there is a serious decline in the number of suspected kidnappers in the state. However, until the last of them is arrested and face the full wrath of the law, all security agencies in the state will not relent. I want to also let you know that all this efforts being achieved are due to collaboration of Amotekun with the police, DSS, the Army, and the Civil Defense.”
Besides, the the Amotekun commander called on Federal Government to decentralise the security system in the country, to allow states adequately manage their own security affairs.
He specifically noted that State police as the only panacea to Nigeria’s security challenges.
Fidelis David in Akure
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