The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on relevant security agencies in the country to immediately deploy adequate personnel and equipment to Ekiti State with a view to curbing rising cases of kidnapping and armed banditry in the State.
The House, specifically urged the Chief of Army Staff to redeploy adequate military personnel to the outpost along the Oke-Ako/Irele area to enhance security and forestall a repeat of the beastly act of abduction.
It also directed the Inspector General of Police, the Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies to deploy more personnel to Ekiti North 1, and ensure that those who terrorise the State through banditry and abduction are found and brought to justice.
The lawmakers also resolved to compel the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to immediately rehabilitate the Oke-Ayedun – Ipao – Irele road, and other roads in the Federal
Constituency.
The House further urged the security agencies to put all measures in place to rescue the school children and teachers that were abducted in Emure Ekiti.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by the House Spokesman, Hon. Akintunde Rotimi Jr. calling attention to growing rate of kidnapping in his constituency.
The lawmaker in his presentation noted that there has been an increase in criminal activities in Ekiti North 1 (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency in recent times, resulting in the loss of lives and property.
He said: “The constituency is exposed to peculiar security challenges due to the nature of our forests and topography, and more painfully because Ekiti Federal roads are some of the most dilapidated in the entire country.
“On Monday, January 29, 2024, criminals carried out a dastardly attack in the Oke-Ako area of Ikole Local Government, resulting in the gruesome murder of two traditional rulers: the Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti, HRM Oba (Dr.) Olatunji Samuel Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, HRM Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin, and leaving a host of others with life-threatening injuries.
“This is not an isolated event, as in the past few days alone, a commercial driver was killed between Ayedun and Ayebode by armed bandits, and just yesterday, a school bus load of students were abducted in Emure Ekiti, along with the driver and their teachers, and their whereabouts is still unknown.
“The late Olumojo was an intellectual and highly intelligent historian and orator who always spoke truth to power.
“The late Elesun was a peace-loving king who was very hands-on in the development of Esun-Ayedun communities.
“Because of the topography of the area, and the bad roads, there has been an increased incursion of murderous elements who parade themselves as herdsmen leading to heightened insecurity.
“The entire people of Imojo in Oye local government and Esun in Ikole Local Government, and indeed the entire Ekiti state, have been thrown into mourning on account of the loss of our highly revered traditional rulers who were forces for community development, peace, and stability in the constituency and the entire state.
“The Nigeria Army has a military outpost on the road, which has been non-functional, as they only patrol on Tuesdays, leaving the communities exposed for the rest of the days,” the motion stated.
The House in the resolution mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.
It also observed a minute silence in honour of the memory of the dearly departed monarchs.
