The rising wave of killings, kidnapping and other violent crimes in Ekiti has instilled fears in the residents. RASAQ IBRAHIM examines the status of state’s security and measures put in place by the state government and the security operatives to curtail the monstrous phenomenon.
In the yesteryear, Ekiti State was known for its peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. There was adequate protection of lives and property.
There were no cases of kidnapping, killings and other manifestations of violent crimes. Residents engaged in their normal businesses without fear, and commuters plied major roads within and outside the state comfortably.
But in recent times, the spate of kidnapping and killing has changed the narratives; with people being abducted or killed not only in Ekiti State but almost in Southwest states.
The state is now a shadow of itself in terms of tranquillity. Travellers and residents have had gory tales to tell about their experiences in the hands of perpetrators of evil.
Aramoko-Erio-Efon, Efon-Iwaraja, Akur-Ikere, Ado-Ijan routes have, in recent time, become hideouts for criminals. Many people have fallen victims of kidnap or robbery on these routes as evidence showed that many people have been serially kidnapped, robbed and killed by suspected bandits.
On January 2, an Accounting Officer at Emure Local Government Area, Mr. Abayomi Ajayi was killed by unknown gunmen on Ikere-Ise Road while returning from work. He was in the company of two colleagues- Dr. Fashina and Pastor Onaade who were kidnapped.
Barely a week after the incident, a former Commissioner for Lands during Fayemi’s first term, Mr. Remi Olorunleke and the Director of Administration, Gbonyin Council Area, Mr. David Jejelowo were also abducted on Ado-Ijan Road by unknown bandits. They later regained freedom after the police and other security operatives combed their suspected hideouts.
On February 13, a farmer, Elijah Ogor, 30, who hailed from Benue State, was killed on his farmland located between Ayegbaju and Ido-Ekiti after his farm was invaded and destroyed.
On May 17, the Secretary-General of Christ’s School Alumni Association, Ado- Ekiti Mr. Rufus Oladele was kidnapped and whisked away to unknown destination by unidentified gunmen.
Oladele, who was abducted along Aramoko–Efon Road, spent four days in the kidnappers’ den before he regained his freedom.
On the same day and at the same spot, a set of twins identified as Kehinde and Taiwo Olowoafara were abducted by suspected marauders.
The abductors had allegedly contacted the family, demanding N6 million for each of their victims.
Also, on June 11, a herdsman, Yusuf Muhammed was alleged to have beheaded his wife Safiat Yakub in Ilasa Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area.
It was gathered that the deceased’s refusal to move over to Mohammed’s home after he had paid her bride price was the reason she was killed.
It was gathered that Muhammed had been arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court and was remanded in prison custody pending advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.
Last week, Felix Akinde, a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Ita Ogbolu on the Akure-Ado Ekiti Road.
According to a source close to the victim, the abductors contacted Akinde’s family via telephone and demanded N5 million as ransom which was later reduced to N2 million after negotiations.
Akinde, popularly known as Baba Ikere who spent eight days in captivity was later released after an undisclosed amount was paid to his abductors.
On June 26, a 20-year-old lady Maria was murdered by suspected bandits in Ise-Ekiti the headquarters of Ise/Orun Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
The undergraduate was reportedly killed in her father’s farm located at one of the farmsteads in the town.
In a telephone chat with Southwest Report, the Ochidoma of Idoma in Ekiti State, Otache Oyigoche confirmed the incident, saying the lady was killed while working in the farm.
Oyigoche revealed that the incident had been reported at a police station in Ise-Ekiti in a bid to unravel the people behind the heinous act.
Barely 48 hours after the incident, a farmer and hunter Mr. Emmanuel Ilori, 68 was murdered by suspected bandits at Orin Farm Settlement, Orin Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area.
It was gathered that Ilori was allegedly shot dead following his response to a call in the night that there were some invaders in the farm settlement.
Ilori’s death had generated concern within the community as residents trooped out in large numbers to protest the murder. They barricaded the major roads and made burn fire to express their displeasure over the killing.
In a chat with Southwest Report, Ilori’s widow, Mrs. Rachael Ilori alleged that her husband was killed by herders, saying life has not been the same since the death of her husband.
She said: “My husband then called the leader of the town and some hunters. That was how he left, not knowing that would be the last time we would see each other.”
She called on the government to come to the aid of the community, saying the herdsmen had been terrorising the community before her husband’s death.
“The bandits should let us have peace of mind in our land. We don’t want them again in our land. They are threats to peace and security of lives and property,” the woman said.
Meanwhile, Governor Kayode Fayemi, bearing in mind that security of lives and property is crucial to socio-economic development is adopting a multidimensional approach to curtail current security challenges.
As part of the measures to rid the state of criminals, the governor had donated two units of Armoured Personnel Carrier vehicles to the state police command. He also makes monthly financial commitment to the security agencies and engages in regular meeting of the state security council.
Others are the inclusion of the informal security outfits in the state’s security formation, enlistment of the support of traditional rulers in the maintenance of peace and protection of lives and property in their various domains and security awareness campaign on electronic media.
Other measures are the establishment of the State Security Trust Fund to enable sustainable funding of crime prevention interventions, creation of an anti-crime outfit code-named “Operation Keep Ekiti Safe”, resuscitation of Peace Corps and security tracking system.
Fayemi had during his condolence visit to Orin Ekiti to commiserate with the residents, given marching orders to the security agencies to comb the forest and bring the culprits to justice.
The governor said the killing of Emmanuel Ilori, whom he described as one of the leaders of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the town saddened his heart.
He urged the people to collaborate with government and security agencies by providing information on suspicious movements and activities in their areas, adding that collaborative efforts by all security stakeholders would help rid the state of banditry and other forms of criminal activities.
Fayemi directed that a police post be provided near the farm settlement and that security patrol be stepped up in the town to forestall any form of insecurity in the area.
Government will provide adequate security in this community so that everyone can ply their trades without fear.
“This is your land. As the governor, I have authority over all the land in the state and I am assuring you that no one will take your land from you for any purpose.
“If we don’t give the security agents around us adequate information, it will be difficult to arrest and prosecute such an offender. That is why there is need for us all to collaborate. We must play our own roles too and inform the appropriate security personnel when we have information that can help them,” Fayemi said.
Fayemi, who faulted state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for attaching political colouration to the incident by alleging that he was planning to give Ekiti land to “outsiders” in exchange for future political ambition.
He said the allegations peddled by the opposition party lacked validity.
“Nobody is coming to take our land in Ekiti, the governor of Ekiti State has power over the land of Ekiti and it is the person that the governor gives land in Ekiti that can use the land of Ekiti.
“It cannot happen in Ekiti except I am no longer the governor of Ekiti State. Nobody can cede Ekiti land to outsiders because our land is not even enough for us.
“Adequate security of our people is what concerns me most in Ekiti and Nigeria and I want our people to ignore lies and falsehood which some individuals are spreading around.
“Those making the allegations are only playing politics with the matter. This is not politics; security is an issue that concerns us all.
The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Amba Asuquo speaking through the Command spokesman, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu said the Command, in its effort to rid the state of criminals has decisively drawn a working template, having done some threat analysis of the major security problem that was confronting the state.
Ikechukwu said they have initiated an operational force under the aegis of ”Operation Make Ekiti Safe”, stressing that the operational task operated 24 hours; moving across the 16 local government areas; patrolling not just for visibility policing but to also raid black spots.
He added that they have also increased the visibility policing of the plain-cloth Intelligent gathering of the joint task force, noting that more awareness for community policing have increased.
“The police are partnering with the communities to assist with information of any act of criminalities happenings around them. The police have also availed the communities of their control room number so that individuals and communities can contact them in case of anything that has to do with crime. The police have also commenced community policing around Ekiti State,” the police spokesman said.
He urged the residents to be helpful in providing the Command with vital and sensitive information on areas where criminals are perpetrating heinous crimes.
Speaking with Southwest Report, the state Chairman, Rice Farmers’ Association of Nigeria, Mr. Kolawole Rotimi who berated the uncontrollable encroachment of farmlands and attacks by the herdsmen and other bandits, said many farmers have abandoned their farms with the fear of being killed.
This, Rotimi said, would have adverse multiplier effects on food production and invariably weaken the economy of the state if the menace is not nipped in the bud.
Rotimi, however, urged the government to be proactive in curtailing the menace so that people can live, farm and transact business under an environment conducive to peace.