The Joint Security Committee (JSC) of Ikere, Emure, Ise/Orun Councils in Ekiti State has called for the establishment of a military check point and police post along two inter-state roads notorious for kidnap activities in the area.
The JSC Chairman, Elder Tunji Falana, lamented that kidnappers have been accessing Ekiti State and our area through the two roads linking Ekiti and Ondo states, Emure Ekiti – Eporo Road and Emure Ekiti and Supare Akoko Road, and perpetrating kidnap for ransom, killings and other crimes”.
Falana, in a statement made available in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, appealed to Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji to come to the aid of the area and indeed innocent travellers on the roads by facilitating the presence of security agents on the roads.
He said, “We have made our position, which can checkmate the kidnappings and criminal activities known. We are requesting for a military checkpoint along Emure – Eporo Road and a police post along Emure Ekiti – Supare Akoko Road.
“These are two roads linking Ekiti State to Ondo State in the axis and they have been identified as the routes that kidnappers use to access this area. We want to appeal to Governor Oyebanji to treat our request as urgency for safety of lives and property.
“We should not wait for another kidnap incidence. Our people – those kidnapped and later released after ransom, those left to mourn the dead victims and others cannot forget in a hurry the kidnap of school pupils and as well the recent incidents along Emure – Eporo Road,” he said.
Falana also called on well-meaning sons and daughters of the three local government areas to support the JSC with a view to enhance security of lives and property in their country homes.
He said, “We want to thank the House of Representatives member representing this area at the National Assembly, Hon. (AVM) Niyi Ojuawo (retd) for prompt responses to matters involving security in this area.
“We call on other well-meaning people of Ise, Orun, Emure, Ikere Ekiti communities to rise to the occasion. The activities of the JSC have, no doubt, contributed to stemming the tide of kidnapping and other crimes including illegal activities in the expansive forest. But we need support to sustain the JSC operations which involves operatives of all security agencies and para-military organisations in the area,” the JSC chairman said.