Ondo Amotekun deploys 100 operatives to rescue kidnapped Ekiti pupils, teachers

Tamarauemi Ebimini

Hundred operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as Amotekun Corps, were deployed to Ekiti State to rescue the pupils who were kidnapped in Emure, Ekiti.

The personnel who will be complementing the efforts of their counterparts in Ekiti State were drafted to the neighbouring state on the order of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

On Monday, gunmen laid siege on Ekiti State when two monarchs, Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Olatunji, and Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, were shot dead with six pupils, three teachers, and a driver of Apostolic Faith Nursery/Primary School kidnapped, at different locations in the state.

Ondo State Corps Commander, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed that Aiyedatiwa ordered that the operatives from the state should assist in tracking and arresting the kidnappers.

Adeleye revealed that some people have been arrested during the combing of Ekiti forests, saying the investigation is ongoing while the search for the pupils continues.

Speaking while parading about 31 suspected criminals at the headquarters of the corps at Alagbaka, Akure, he said an investigation had begun as regards their activities in the state.

He disclosed that the 24-hour patrol of the formation, with the collaboration of other security agencies in the state, paid off in checking criminal activities in the state.

According to him, the joint border patrol between Ondo and Osun states that Amotekun Corps has been reinforced to prevent travellers from being attacked or molested by criminals.

He said, “We had an unfortunate incident in Ekiti, and the governor of Ondo State directed that we move in the interest of brotherliness to assist in the security situation in Ekiti State. We deployed 100 personnel to assist the Ekiti command.

“We’ve been there for the last 48 hours. Some arrests have been made, and we will continue until the perpetrators of such dastardly acts are arrested.”

He assured residents of Ondo State that Amotekun will 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-hour patrol; we will continue to track all criminals from the cities to the forestry reserves and ensure that travellers can move unmolested,” Adeleye said.

“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 can 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 who will carry out any activity in the forestry reserves must get permission.”

The Amotekun commander called on the Federal Government to decentralise the security system to allow states to manage their own security affairs, stressing that state police are the only panacea to Nigeria’s security challenges.