Ekiti State Government has reiterated its commitment to the provision
of adequate security to lives and property of people and would
continue to ensure that there is no hiding place for criminals in the
State.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, the State
Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Hon. Akin Omole,
however described the report credited to the Spokesperson of Bisi Kolawole’s
Gubernatorial Campaign, Lere Olayinka on the recent arrest of two
persons at Ido Ekiti for alleged kidnapping as cheap blackmail and a
crude attempt at linking the State Government with one of the
suspects.
Omole noted that while it is true that Alhaji Abashe Adamu was a
member of the Farmers-herders Peace Committee set up by the State
Government, he was never a Government appointee but was in the
committee as a representative of the herders and a community leader.
He wondered why the report conveniently omitted the fact that the
other suspect was a councilor in Ido/Osi Local Government during the
illegal tenure of Chief Segun Oni and Peoples Democratic Party in the
State.
The Commissioner cautioned against politicizing such serious issues,
stressing that trivializing the matter may be inimical to the conduct
of proper investigations by relevant security agencies as well as
apprehending and prosecuting other possible criminals in the State.
He emphasized the need to avoid any act that may derail proper
investigations, noting that giving political coloration to the matter
would not be in the interest of achieving a permanent solution to the issue of security which is on the front burner of the present administration in the state.
Omole noted that available statistics indicated that rate of kidnapping in the state had witnessed a steady decline since April this year.
The Information Commissioner who commended the police and other security agents in the state for their assiduity which has led to drastic reduction in criminal activities in Ekiti therefore solicited enhanced cooperation of all stakeholders in ridding the state of all forms of criminality.