The spate of insecurity in Ekiti State has unsettled many of its inhabitants. RASAQ IBRAHIM examines the carnage and the measures put in place to decimate it by the state government and the security agencies.
Ado-Ekiti, Aramoko, Erio, Ikere and other towns sharing boundary with Ekiti State have seen hell—no thanks to the activities of armed robbers and kidnappers. Now, Fayemi and security agencies are battling to take the people away from hell.
Ekiti was known for its peaceful atmosphere during the first term of Dr. Kayode Fayemi where maximum protection of lives and property were adequately guaranteed.
Immediately he left office, the relative peace enjoyed in the state went on exile. On the January 2, an Accounting Officer in 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. These colleagues, Dr Fashina and Pastor Onaade, were kidnapped.
Barely a week this incident occurred, 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 hideout.
Deji Akeredolu, 37, a councillor representing Ado Ward 9 at the Ado Local Government Council, at the Onala area of Ado-Ekiti , the State capital, was a victim of the gunmen running wild. He is dead.
The deceased and his wife were said to have alighted from a motorbike at the junction to their house around 10 pm when the gunmen fired shots at him from the back.
The criminal activities continued with an ugly incident at the popular Tosin Aluko Motor Park at Ajilosun, Ado Ekiti metropolis when a man was shot dead.
According to a source, the victim attempted to challenge the driver of the car conveying the gunmen for reckless driving, following which the gunmen opened fire and shot him in the stomach and head.
“The deceased was in the car and the vehicle conveying the gunmen hit his car at the back at that spot.
“He, then, alighted from the car to complain over the reckless driving not knowing they were armed robbers and the bandits opened fire on him and he died immediately,” he said.
On February 7, a policeman, Sgt Kamoru Momoh, was shot dead on new Iyin-Ilawe Road by armed robbers who earlier robbed a filling station at Basiri, Ado Ekiti.
The robbers were said to have besieged the petrol station and carted away cash worth over a million naira.
It was gathered that the robbers on sighting the police van driven by the late police officer, which seemed to be on their trail, blocked the road at the NTA junction with their vehicle and rained bullets on the policeman and got his head shattered.
An eyewitness, Olumide Bamigbetan, said: “When the Hilux chased them up to that point, the armed robbers used their vehicle to block the way and rained bullets on the car.
“The bullets hit the driver of the vehicle and died on the spot after which the robbers entered their car and sped off.
“Some of the motorists had to take a detour and escaped the scene, because the sound of the guns caused panic in the area”, he stated.
The body was deposited in the morgue of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital.
Fayemi paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Kamoru Momoh, a CID operative.
It was an emotion-laden visit at the home of the late CID operative. Fayemi was almost moved to tears sighting the wife and young children of the deceased.
He assured the bereaved family that the government would sponsor the education and other needs of the children, describing the incident as unfortunate and devastating.
Last week, a farmer, Elijah Ogor, 30, who hailed from Benue State, was killed on his farmland situated between Ayegbaju and Ido-Ekiti after his farm was invaded and destroyed by the herdsman with cattle.
The death was reported through the Seriki Fulani in Ekiti, Alhaji Abashe Adamu, to the task force of Gan-Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria(GAFDAN), Ekiti chapter who later apprehended Umar Abubakar Sanda, in connection with the death.
The GAFDAN’S Secretary, Hon. Toyin Ibrahim, said: “We got the information from Seriki Fulani that a farmer was killed in Ayegbaju . Our task force, comprising virtually all the ethnic groups in Nigeria moved into that bush and arrested Umar Sanda.
“At the point we saw him, he was holding a rifle and with live cartridge inside. We queried the rationale behind the carrying of firearm which contravened Ekiti State Anti-Grazing Law, but he gave no reason. He was just raising issues that would make him look innocent.
“The reason why we suspected him was that, two other people were with the deceased when he was shot, they escaped from the scene and the description they gave showed that the suspect was involved.
“As law abiding group, we immediately took Sanda to the police station at Ido Ekiti where he was detained .Part of our mandate in GAFDAN is to arrest cattle rustlers and errant herdsmen, who destroyed farmlands or commit other offences.”
As part of the government’s efforts to restore the core values of the State and uproot the proceeds inherited from Fayose’s administration, Dr. Fayemi who dubbed as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the State , summoned emergency security meeting where issues bothered on insecurity were carefully discussed.He had ordered the Police Commissioner, Mr Asuquo Amba, the Directorate of State Services(DSS) and other security networks to strengthen their security architecture in a bid to wipe out all manifestation of criminal activities.
In addition, the State Government had also enlisted the support of the Pan-Yoruba group, O’dua People’s Congress (OPC) and vigilante to collaborate with the security agencies to restore peace to the State.
The governor had also reinstated the sacked operatives of the scrapped Ekiti State Peace Corps and reiterated its commitment to recruit additional 800 operatives to work with the police across every community.
He had urged the residents to bow to superior directive from the police and must not take laws into our hands, saying the residents need to be partner in progress with the police and other sister agencies to make Ekiti safe.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi in the same vein had also called on the military to return soldiers to the checkpoints in the country to curtail the over bearing influence of the criminals in ensuring the protection of lives and property.
He advised the military to restrategise and devise plans in tackling menace dedeviling the State, saying “the military need to look for more alternative means of preventing men of the underworld from perpetrating their nefarious criminal activities.
“Government needs the backing of every member of the society to tackle the menace, for they will be at the receiving end if proper actions are not taken, promising that the present administration won’t tolerate criminals to disrupt the peace enjoying in the state,” he said.
Fayemi, who spoke through the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication, Segun Dipe, lamented the scourge of criminal activities ravaging the State before now, saying the government’s commitment to protection of lives and property resulted in the existing peace and orderliness in the state.
“We have achieved a lot in conquering the direct proceeds of last administration when hooliganism and thuggery were institutionalized as state policies.”
Fayemi added that all efforts had been geared towards putting those with criminal tendencies at bay, saying it is evident that the past inglorious days of crime is over.
In an attempt to make Ekiti safe, the State Police Command, CP Asuquo Amba decisevely drew a working template having done some threat analysis of what the major security problem that was confronting the State.
Amba had drawn this template and identified specifically things that need to be tackled, some crime waves. And the measures needed to take in combating them.
In collaboration with other sister security agencies, he initiated an operational force under the aegis of ‘Operation Make Ekiti Safe’ to rid the State of crimes.
Among security operatives collaborating with the Police include Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Immigration Service, Department of State Services (DSS) , Nigerian Police, Nigeria Custom Service among others.
The operations of the joint task force have been visible along Ado-Ilawe road, Ado-Iyin road, Ado-Ijan –Ikare road, Ado-Ikere-Akure road, Ado-Iwiroko-Ifaki road and the inner city like Ijigbo, Okesa and Okeyinmi areas with motorists moving into Ado Ekiti metropolis were being stopped and thoroughly searched.
The government provided logistical and moral support for that operation outfit institutionalised.
The operational task operated on 24hrs, moving across the 16 Local Government Area of the State patrolling not just for visibility policing but to raid black spots.
The CP had also increased the visibility policing of the plain-cloth intelligent gathering of the joint task force. Not just that alone, more awareness for community policing had increased in the state.
Amba, speaking through the PPRO, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said: “We had involved the people, urging them to be helpful in providing the Command with vital and sensitive information on area where criminals are perpetrating their heinous crimes.
And in doing that, the CP ensured open door policy where people can come to us and divulge good information to them. And this had helped out.
With the measures put in place, the Police recorded great success with over 180 persons have been arrested across board acting on reliable tip off by members of the community.
As a result of this raiding in those criminal hideouts like Atikankan and others where drug related activities were going on, great numbers of criminals had been brought before the State Criminal Department where they were screened and charged to court.
Among those arrested by the joint task force included Dele Obamoyegun, Idowu Sunday, Adeniyi Eunice, leye Ojo, Akindahunsi Damilola and Olaosebikan Babatunde.
However, the operational task led by Police Chief burst a forest and discovers a ritualist shrine in Odo, a suburb in Ado Ekiti, the state capital where two suspects were arrested.
According to a source who craved anonymity, the shrine was being used by ‘awo’ (fraudster) as a haven to perpetrate their criminal activities.
The Commissioner of Police, Asuquo Amba speaking through his spokesman, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu in an interview with The Nation disclosed that the giant feat recorded was made possible with the Governor Kayode Fayemi commitment and support morally and logistically.
Amba said Operation Make Ekiti Safe has delivered on its entrusted assignment with huge success recorded.
He added that there wasn’t any element of criminal activities in the State again, with residents now living without fear and tension.
He said: “Stop and search was part of the operations of the special task force. I think they have the constitutional power to carry out routine checks on people moving in and out to test their compliance to simple rules.
“Two months ago a special force started its operations in Ekiti and since that time they have been carrying out their jobs in a civilised way, no harassment, no intimidation of any member of the public.”
Victims, relations recount ordeal of criminal activities
A close friend to the kidnapped council workers, who confided in our reporter disclosed that the two captives were released from the kidnappers den having paid an undisclosed amount of money.
“Although the security operatives did what they could do to ensure their release from kidnappers’ den but he was set free having met the conditions given by the abductors.
Similarly, speaking with The Nation, Oladimeji Joseph identified as the chairman of Emure community where the late Sgt. Kamoroudeen resided, described him as a gentle careless about frivolities of life.
Joseph added that the deceased contributed immensely to the development of his community, most especially in the area of security.
“It is saddening and surprising to see the corpse of Sgt. Kamoroudeen. I never taught in the next 40yrs, he would leave so soon.
“He left us only in this world without noticing us knowing that we have no one except him. It will be difficult to fill the vacuum created with his demise.
“He volunteered to render selfless service in the area of security. And he did it with great alacrity.
“Few days to his death, we were together discussing on how some residents in Zone B Area of the community went ahead to obtain electricity without paying the necessary dues to the community.
Through his efforts, the People have promised to pay this Saturday (today).
“The whole community had been missing him of his good work. It will be difficult to find a perfect person to fill the vacuum created,” he said.
A close associate of the farmer, Elijah Ogor killed by suspected herdsman who craved anonymity disclosed that the deceased and he had planned to travel to their home town next month before this ugly incident occurred.
He added that as part of their plan, they had decided to stay till after Easter before they would return but unfortunately he died.
It is painful to hear that Ogor died. He left home for the farm to do some rough work on the farmland and fetch some tubers of yam to eat.
“Surprisingly, we just heard the information that he had been killed by herdsman.
“The culprit must face the wrath of law without prejudice or favour. How any marauder could invade someone’s farm with his cattle, destroyed it.
And still went ahead to kill him? This is unjust in a society where there are laws and constituted authority.
“This issue must be thoroughly investigated and whoever found culpable should be prosecuted according to the laws of the land,” he said.
In an interview with a businessman, Tijani Abiodun Adedayo who spoke with our reporter attributed the wave of violent crimes to the inordinate desire and desperation of younger ones to get rich in quick time.
“In any society like Ekiti State where youths are reluctant to engage in meaningful work, there is high propensity of such community to be ravaged with criminal activities such as yahoo-yahoo, fraud, kidnapping, armed robbery among others.
“They ventured into all these to satisfy their insatiable desires and cater for their needs.
“And all these constituted to the prevailing security challenges ravaging the State,” he said.
Also a community leader who craved anonymity lauded the tactical approach of the State Government and the security operatives in curbing the hydra headed challenges posed by the criminal activities.
“It is imperative to assert that the government of the day under the leadership of Dr. Kayode Fayemi has restored relative peace and normalcy the State is known for.
“The state is known to be turbulent and violent four years ago but with Fayemi’s commitment to guarantee protection of lives and property, the lost peace virtues has returned fully,” he said.