Mrs. Iyabo Fakunle-Okieme, the representative of Ilejemeje constituency at the Ekiti State House of Assembly, has raised alarms over the growing wave of kidnappings and insecurity in her area.
During a recent plenary session, Mrs. Fakunle-Okieme expressed deep concern about the deteriorating security situation, pointing to the tragic killing of 22-year-old Idowu Oguntuase.
Oguntuase was brutally murdered along the Iye-Iludun road on Sunday night while transporting farm workers who had been employed on the farm of Chief Folorunso Olabode, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs. In addition to the murder, five other individuals in the vehicle were abducted by the assailants.
The lawmaker called on both the federal and state governments to take swift and decisive action to address the alarming rise in kidnappings and violence in the region.
She highlighted how these criminal activities are not only threatening the safety and well-being of residents but are also having a damaging effect on the local economy. Farming, which is a major source of livelihood for the community, has been particularly impacted as fear of kidnappings deters workers and affects agricultural productivity.
Mrs. Fakunle-Okieme urged the government to prioritize the security of the area, stressing that the community’s development is being stifled by the continued insecurity.
She further appealed for increased surveillance and policing efforts to protect residents from the threats posed by kidnappers and other criminals.
In response, Speaker of the House Adeoye Aribasoye, along with other members, called on the federal government to allow states to establish their own security structures, such as state police, to more effectively combat the rising insecurity across the country.
The lawmakers argued that local security outfits would be more equipped to address specific challenges within their jurisdictions and could help restore peace to regions like Ilejemeje, where the community has been grappling with persistent kidnappings.
The push for state-controlled security is part of a broader debate in Nigeria over the need for more localized and responsive approaches to the country’s widespread insecurity issues.
The Ekiti State Assembly is joining other voices calling for reforms that would give states greater autonomy over their security architecture, which they believe is necessary to curb the violence and ensure the safety of citizens.