Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has urged residents of Ekiti communities sharing borders with Kwara, Osun and Kogi states to be extra vigilant and work with the government to thwart the influx of criminals into the state through the forests and other porous sections of their communities.
Oyebanji, who expressed sadness over last week’s killing of a pastor and the kidnapping of worshippers at Eda Oniyo Ekiti, a border community with Kwara State, assured that the abducted persons would be rescued by the security agencies.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye, spoke on Sunday during a sympathy visit to Eda Oniyo Ekiti, in the Ilejemeje Local Government.
He assured that every strategy would be devised to ensure the safety and security of the populace, adding that his administration would not condone any act of terror, senseless killings and abduction of its citizens.
Recall that the Christ Apostolic Church in the community was attacked by gunmen on Tuesday.
The gunmen shot dead the pastor and whisked away about 16 worshippers into the forest.
The state government and security agencies said that full-scale surveillance operations had been activated in the axis to facilitate the rescue of the abductees and the arrest of the criminals.
Oyebanji said, “This government will never abandon you. We will work hard to rescue those abducted alive. We really feel your pain and what you are going through.
“On this issue of police station and military post, we will work hard on it and deliver soon.”
The governor, however, urged the community to look inwards and purge itself of criminal elements, saying, “Internal collusion with criminals is fuelling invasion of the community. This government is not happy about this.
“The government wanted to site an industry along that forest, but our people resisted it. The government can’t take your lands without paying compensation. It is not only Ilejemeje that shares a boundary with Kwara; why is criminality higher here than in other towns?
“Those of you who are their informants and collaborators, please, change your ways in the interest of your people and the corporate image of our state,” he added.
The governor stressed his administration’s resolve to map out a strategy to checkmate trans-border banditry and criminality that could endanger the lives of the populace and cause unwarranted panic in the system.
He also appealed, “Let us suspend vigil for now. Let us hold all our religious functions in the day, and I know God will answer our prayers.
“Nobody is trying to stop you from practising the religion of your choice, but we have to take security measures at this crucial time.”
The traditional ruler, the Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba Julius Awolola, who said only government intervention could resolve the problem of abduction and killing in the community, made a case for watertight security in the area.
The monarch, who described the Tuesday incident as traumatising and saddening, applauded the state government for showing sympathy and solidarity with the town at this moment of grief.
He said, “The government should look into our case. We are really sad as kidnapping and killing are becoming recurrent.”
The Chairman of Eda Oniyo Progressive Union, Dr Rufus Ajayi, appealed to the state government on the timely rescue of the abducted persons, saying, “We are pleading with the government to help us. We are in an emergency situation.”
Ajayi, who said the community had begun the building of a police post along Eda Oniyo and Obbo Ayegunle border as part of the measures to ensure security of lives and property, appealed to the government to help in the completion of the police post and erect a military post at the border to reinforce security in the town.
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