Ondo Amotekun Deploys 100 Personnel to Aid Release of Ekiti Pupils, Teachers

•Parades 31 for kidnapping, robbery 

•Says state police is only panacea for nation’s security challenges

Fidelis David in Akure

Following the kidnap of five pupils of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, and four staff members, the Ondo State Command of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), codenamed Amotekun, said it has deployed 100 personnel to the neighbouring state to aid the release of the victims.

Gunmen had Monday killed two Ekiti monarchs – the Onimojo of Imojo, Oba Olatunde Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin –while the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba, narrowly escaped.

On the same day, six pupils, three teachers and the driver of their bus were kidnapped on their way back from school along Eporo-Ekiti road.

However, the Ondo State Commander of Amotekun, Adetunji Adeleye, while parading 31 suspects arrested across the 18 council areas of the state, yesterday, said, in the spirit of brotherliness, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had directed the deployment of 100 Amotekun personnel to work with their counterparts in Ekiti to secure the release of the pupils and arrest the killers of the monarchs.

His words: “A couple of hours ago, we had an unfortunate incident in Ekiti and the governor of Ondo State directed we moved in the interest of brotherliness to assist in the security situation in Ekiti State. We deployed 100 personnel to assist Ekiti command.

“We’ve been there in the last 48 hours. Some arrest have been made and we will continue until the perpetrators of such dastardly act are arrested.”

He assured residents of Ondo State that Amotekun would continue to do everything possible to ensure that lives and property are protected.

“You will recall that in the last three months, we’ve been on this. We want to reassure the people of Ondo that the state, security-wise is intact.

“We will continue with our 24 hours patrol, we will continue to track all criminals from the cities to the forestry reserves and ensure that travelers can move unmolested.

“So, I want to assure the good people of Ondo State that there is no problem. The state is safe. But, they have a duty to report any suspicious movement in their environment to us on time, so that we could be proactive and ensure that before it gets out of hand, this is nipped in the bud.

“We have a sudden upsurge of visitors coming in from different parts of the country, in the name of hunting. The state government had made it clear that anybody that will carry out any activity in the forestry reserves must take permission.”

On the 31 suspects paraded, Adeleye said they allegedly engaged in different nefarious and criminal act across the state.

“Across board, we have suspected kidnappers, those we arrested for illegal possession of firearms, especially those arrested in the forest reserve.

“We have those that specialise in breaking shops and houses. What we had assured the public is that the Ondo State Security Network Agency will not relent in its efforts in getting raid of criminals from our societies.”