*Says Gov Oyebanji did well handling issues
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Atayero of Aramoko Kingdom, HRH Amb. Olusegun Aderemi JP, and the Nigeria Regional President, Occupational Safety and Health, UK, has hailed deployment of a special detachment of military personnel to Ekiti State by the Federal Government following recent spike in activities of kidnappers and other criminal elements in the state.
Amb Aderemi, who had earlier described the killing of fellow monarchs in the state as unacceptable, made the commendation in a statement Thursday night saying Federal and state governments were commendable for the steps taken to deploy troops to curb the menace of insecurity in the state.
“We had said the killing was unacceptable and we called for government to go after the perpetrators of the heinous act. We then called reinforcement of security and these the authorities have done and we thank them,” he said.
It will be recalled that two two traditional rulers namely Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba (Professor) Olatunde Samuel Olushola, and Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Ogunshakin, were mowed down by the weapons yet to be identified gunmen in the Ikole Local Government Area of the state on Monday January 29, 2024.
Also, some school children and teachers were abducted in Emure-Ekiti, which a media report said happened the same day.
Worried by the events, Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, met with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, during which he called for more deployment of operatives to the state.
On Thursday, the state government received the first batch of troops deployed to the state who were seen patrolling major towns and communities.
The Commander 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Brig Gen. John Lar, who spoke at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Thursday, said that the personnel were drafted across the country by the Chief of Army Staff to enhance security of lives and property in Ekiti.
The commander revealed that the troops will be deployed across the 16 Local Government Areas and the adjourning states to flush out criminal herdsmen, kidnappers and other marauders wreaking havoc in the state.
