Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed his readiness to rally all security apparatus available to fight and flush out criminal elements who might want to make the state a killing field and a haven for criminals.

Oyebanji said his government will also reinvigorate the local security outfits to work in synergy with conventional security networks to break the ranks of those perpetrating heinous crimes in the facets of kidnapping, banditry, and killings in Ekiti State.

The governor said these in a statewide broadcast on Tuesday night.

This followed the murder of two monarchs by gunmen along Oke Ako-Irele road and the abduction of some primary school pupils and teachers in Emure Ekiti.

Governor Oyebanji said the most saddening to him was the fact that he was just emerging from a security council meeting, where strategic and far-reaching measures were taken on how to make Ekiti State retain its status as the most peaceful and investment-friendly state in the country.

Oyebanji appealed to the residents of the state not to despair of the horrible trend of events, saying all hands are on the plough to track down the perpetrators of the horrendous acts.

Tinubu orders ‘immediate’ rescue of abducted Ekiti pupils, teachers

Oyebanji said: “This new turn of event in our dear state is a very devastating and sad one for me; this is because security has always held a significant priority in our administration and this can be seen in our state being consistently adjudged one of the most peaceful with low crime rate in the entire federation.

“I have therefore challenged the security agencies with a firm instruction to fish out the soulless murderers who committed this heinous sacrilege on the soil of Ekiti.

“As a follow up to this, Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was on a long call with me yesterday to commiserate with the state and to give a firm assurance that everything will be done to ensure such a dastardly act never repeats itself. He is mobilising security resources to help in bringing the killers to book and in rescuing the abducted children and their teachers.

“I have also visited the concerned communities and the Chairman of Traditional Council to commiserate and also reassure them of government’s strong resolve to confront this ugly trend.

“Ekiti Kete, while these occurrences can be distressing, we should not despair or waver in our steel resolve to work together to fight all violent crimes. As the evil men are unrelenting, we too have to collectively confront their evil enterprise with all the resources in our behest.

“We must all collaborate to share intelligence and organise community-based security arrangement to complement the state’s security apparatus. As part of effort to ensure this does not happen again, we will strengthen our support for the security agencies by further enhancing their capacity through the provision of high-grade equipment.

“We will also strengthen our community-based security organisations and other relevant individuals to fashion out a sustainable and workable system to confront this evil monster once and for all. Be assured of your security, even, as we all should be vigilant and security conscious.”

The Star