By Ayodele Oni
Ekiti state commissioner of police, Adeniran Akinwale, has ordered that adequate security measures should be put in place at Eda Oniyo community to forestall further attack.
The order was sequel to Tuesday invasion of the community by hoodlums from neighbouring Obbo Aiyegunle in Kwara state, during which they destroyed the secretariat of Ilejemeje local government and vehicles.
Also during the attack, some indigenes of the community returning from their farms were beaten up mercilessly with some of them still on admission.
Motive behind the attack remains unknown as it continued on Thursday with attack on people in their farms, while crops were also destroyed.
Speaking during visit to assess extent of damage, the police boss, assured the people to remain calm as security agencies were on ground to protect them and their properties.
He described the Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba Julius Awolola as a peace loving monarch by ensuring that his people did not embark on a revenge mission.
Akinwale stated that his visit to the community was part of efforts by the state government to restore peace and harmony in Eda Oniyo Community and it’s neighbour in Kwara state.
In a reaction, Oba Awolola thanked the State Government for the quick intervention in the incident and stressed the need for a police station in the community as a local government headquarter and a boundary community.
Also Eda Oniyo Progressives Union (EPU) while reacting to the attack described it as barbaric and urged security agencies to act swiftly to prevent repriesal attack.
A statement by EPU President, Dr Rufus Ajayi demanded for Justice On the invasion, and destruction Of Ilejemeje council Secretariat.
The statement reads “Eda Oniyo Progressives Union, (EPU) wishes to strongly condemn the invasion of Ilejemeje local government secretariat by some terrorists in the early hours of 16th April, 2024.
“Taking advantage of porous borders, some hoodlums from neighbouring Obbo Aiyegunle in Kwara state attacked the secretariat of Ilejemeje local government, Eda Oniyo in Ekiti state on that Tuesday.
“They still continued on Thursday, 18th April in the morning by invading farms belonging to Eda Oniyo Indigenes and started destroying their farm crops, while they shot sporadically into the air. This is the height of insults for foreigners to be attacking natives on their own soil.
“During the terrified invasion, the terrorists unleashed series of hardship on the innocent workers by shooting sporadically to the secretariat building.
“In the course of doing this, the building was seriously damaged, while those workers that had reported for duty managed to escape.
“Some innocent persons, in the course of searching for their daily bread in their farms, were seriously beaten to stupor, while their means of transportation, motorcycle and a Honda car were damaged and burnt beyond repairs.
“We strongly condemn this act of hooliganism by these Obbo Aiyegunle miscreants whose mission to Eda Oniyo remains unknown. The community has been living in peace with her neighbours, while few issues are resolved without any rancour.
“The attack had buttressed our call for a permanent Police Station in Eda Oniyo. Apart from being a local government headquarter, it is a boundary community between Ekiti and Kwara state.
“It has become a route for economic saboteurs that cart away our farm produce without paying necessary levy to the state government coffer. Kidnappers too have turned the place to an escape route.
“It is in view of this that EPU renews its call for a permanent Police Station in Eda Oniyo to curb the excesses of these hoodlums, especially from neighbouring Obbo Aiyegunle community. A stitch in Time Saves Nine.
“EPU also appeals to security agents especially the state Police Command to unravel those behind this destruction and make them pay for it and face the law.
“This is the only way the community will guarantee peaceful coexistence with our neighbours. To the victims of the attack, and the youths, the Union appeals for calm to enable the police carry out its duty and fish out the miscreants.”
