By Wasiu Owolewa
Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration’s commitment towards securing the lives and property of the people of Ekiti state was put to challenge with the January 29 tragic incidents which led to the brutal murder of two royal fathers, the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Olusola at Oke-Ako in Ikole-Ekiti local government by alleged Fulani herdsmen and the abduction of some pupils of the Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary School, Emure-Ekiti and their teachers.
The Governor being alive to his responsibility as the Chief security officer of the state, immediately swung into action to restore normalcy and unravel those behind the dastardly acts.
The following day, the governor held an emergency meeting with heads of security agencies before proceeding on a condolence visit to the families of the royal fathers where he made an assurance that the death of the monarchs would never be in vain and the perpetrators would be arrested and made to face the maximum punishment.
“I can assure you that the death of these monarchs would not be in vain. The perpetrators would be apprehended and made to face the maximum punishment”
He further added that the government would collaborate with relevant agencies and traditional institutions to make the state too hot for criminals.
“On our part, we shall collaborate relevant agencies and traditional institutions to make the state too hot for criminals”
The governor being sincere with his words and without wasting time, held an elaborate security meeting with all the traditional rulers and heads of security agencies on how to battle the criminal syndicates and maintain the peaceful atmosphere the state has been enjoying.
Governor Oyebanji, not leaving any stone unturned to secure the release of the abducted school pupils and flush out criminal elements from the land of honour, travelled out of the state to meet with the service chiefs which included the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja separately to fashion out a more strategic approach to stem the current spate of insecurity in some parts of the State.
The Governor during his meeting with the Military top hierarchy sought for more military personnel to the state to burst criminal hideouts, as well as provision of a Forward Operating Base to strengthen the security architecture of the state.
The governor in company of the Senate Majority Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele also met with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun at the Force Headquarters in follow up to his strategic move to restore normalcy in the state.
The strategic move by the governor seems to be yielding fruitful result as the Nigeria Police Force have deployed helicopter and armoured personnel to the South-West state. There have been heavy presence of security personnel in the affected communities.
The urgent steps taken by the governor has shown his sincere commitment to prioritize the security of lives and properties of the people of Ekiti state.
As Ekiti awaits the release of the school pupils from the kidnappers’ den and the arrest of the perpetrators of the rigicide, we are optimistic that normalcy will finally return to the affected communities in no distant time.