Kidnappings: Ekiti Border Communities Appeal For Military Posts

By Ayodele Oni

Border Communities in Ekiti, groaning under insecurity, have called for the establishment of military posts to curtail infiltration from neighbouring towns.

Of recent, some of the border communities have been experiencing kidnappings and armed robberies and series of attacks from hoodlums that take refuge in towns which belong to neighbouring states.

Notable of such incidents was the invasion of Eda Oniyo Community in Ilejemeje local government during which the council secretariat and private houses destroyed by invaders from Obbo Aiyegunle in Kwara state.

A community leader in Eda Oniyo, Ojo Ajayi, noted that soldiers have been deployed to the community but that a permanent Military Post at the border area will permanently end activities of the hoodlums.

Also, suspected kidnappers shot dead one person, wife, daughter and other occupants of the car in which they were traveling abducted at Ise, which shares borders with Ondo state.

A Joint Security Committee of Ikere, Emure, and Ise/Orun Councils called for the establishment of military checkpoints and police posts along two interstate roads notorious for kidnapping activities in the area.

The JSC Chairman, Tunji Falana, lamented that “kidnappers have been accessing Ekiti State and our area through the two roads linking Ekiti and Ondo states, Emure Ekiti-Eporo Road and Emure Ekiti-Supare Akoko Road, perpetrating kidnappings for ransom, killings, and other crimes.

“Gunmen, kidnapped nine persons on the Emure-Eporo road, including five school children, three female teachers, and a school bus driver. The kidnappers later killed the driver and released the others.

“These two roads linking Ekiti State to Ondo State have been identified as routes used by kidnappers to access this area.

“We urge Governor Oyebanji to treat our request with urgency for the safety of lives and property. We should not wait for another kidnapping incident.

“Our people, those kidnapped and later released after ransom, those mourning the dead victims, and others, cannot forget the kidnapping of school pupils and the recent incidents along Emure-Eporo Road.”

Falana also appealed to well-meaning individuals from the three local government areas to support the JSC to enhance the security of lives and property in their communities.

“We thank the House of Representatives member representing this area at the National Assembly, Niyi Ojuawo, for his prompt responses to security matters in this area. We call on other well-meaning people of Ise, Orun, Emure, and Ikere Ekiti communities to follow suit and rise to the occasion.

“The activities of the JSC have, no doubt, contributed to reducing kidnapping and other crimes, including illegal activities in the expansive forests. We need support to sustain operations involving all security agencies and paramilitary organisations in the area.”