Apparently concerned on the rising cases of kidnapping within its territorial boundaries, the Ekiti State government has summoned an emergency security council meeting for Wednesday.
The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, disclosed this on Tuesday while playing host to traditional chiefs under the aegis of Association of Ekiti Traditional Chieftaincy Title Holders (AETCTH) in his office in Ado-Ekiti.
The meeting is expected to be chaired by Governor Kayode Fayemi and will have heads of all security agencies in the state in attendance in a bid to strengthen the state security architecture.
Egbeyemi in a statement signed by his Special Assistant (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola, said government was taking some steps to ensure security of lives and property in the state.
The deputy governor emphasized that traditional rulers and chiefs must be on red alert in their domains and be fully involved in security of their areas.
He warned that government would not tolerate a situation in which monarchs and chiefs allow their domains to be used by kidnappers as bases for their nefarious activities.
The traditional chiefs who were led by their spokesman, the Odofinyin of Iyin-Ekiti, High Chief Ayodeji Esan, had listed a ten-point demand which include official recognition by government and their involvement in the maintenance of peace and security in each community.
They also advised the government to involve local hunters and vigilance groups as part of measures to ward off the incursion of armed herdsmen and kidnappers.
He said: “We would frown against any oba or chief in whose domains people are kidnapped, we would frown against any place where people are kidnapped or used by kidnappers to operate.
“Henceforth, obas and chiefs must now be on alert and you must know people in your vicinity. Be on alert especially for strange persons in your neighbourhoods and farms who may want to use those places as hideouts.
“Those coming in and those going out of your domains, you must know them. Government is ready to assist you to ensure that there is security of lives and property.
“Obas and chiefs in communities between Igede and Efon, Ikere and Emure, Ado and Ikere, between Iworoko and Ifaki and Ifaki and Omuo, the obas there should be up and doing.”
“You will recall that during the first tenure of Governor Fayemi, he committed a lot of resources to security by equipping the police and purchasing over 35 vehicles for them.
“But after four years, the vehicles are damaged and there are no replacements for them.”
The traditional chiefs, however, pledged their loyalty to the Fayemi administration which they acknowledged invested in the development of grassroots.
They also promised to mobilize people in the grassroots for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections to ensure victory for the party’s candidates.
