The recent escalating security situation in Ekiti State has become a major concern with a surge in kidnappings, robberies, and killings affecting communities across the state.
In response, the state government has intensified its efforts to tackle the challenges through a series of proactive and reactive measures.
The latest initiative includes the quarterly Security and Intelligence Committee meeting between the state security stakeholders and chairmen of Local Governments as well as Local Council Development Areas LCDAs.
The quarterly security meeting, presided over by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Brigadier General Ebenezer Ogundana, was convened at the behest of Governor Biodun Oyebanji to review and enhance the state’s security architecture.
Retired Brigadier General Ogundana highlighted that many of the crimes in Ekiti State are incursions from neighboring states, assuring that the government is strategizing countermeasures to prevent further security breaches.
Addressing concerns about the vulnerability of the Iludun-Isan road to abductions and killings, the Special Adviser described the recent kidnappings along the route as unfortunate.
He noted that security operatives have addressed the incident and emphasized that concerted efforts have kept the road safe for several years.
“I want to assure the people of Ekiti state that Governor Oyebanji with his security team is on top of the security situation of the state. This meeting is not the only one because we are still going to convene another meeting security and para military agencies”, Ogundana explained.
On his part, the Ekiti State Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria ALGON, Mr. Oluwasegun Ojo, stated that council chairmen in the state are forming strategic partnerships with various security outfits to ensure the safety of lives and properties at the grassroots level.
“We collaborate with the existing security agencies, the army, the police and others to ensure that we assist them to perform their duties. There are situations when we have to provide vehicles and buy tires to keep things afloat. All the Local government chairmen take issue of security very seriously because we know that one of our major responsibilities is to ensure the safety of lives and properties of the people and at the same time, we want to make sure that we develop our community which could only be achieved if there is peace”, He said.
Mr. Ojo, who also serves as the Chairman of Ekiti East Local Government, acknowledged the critical role of security in the socio-economic development of society and assured residents of the council chairmen’s commitment to providing safer environments.
