Adebayo Adenrele
Thr Ekiti State Police Command has vowed to rescue the victims of Eda Oniyo-Ekiti incident in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of the state, declaring the claims of no presence of security at the community as untrue and a fallacy.
This was contained in a statement signed and made available to journalists by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Ekiti State Police Command has been drawn to a suspected politically motivated video circulating on the social media via Arabatv platform insinuating that there is no presence of Police and security agencies in EDA ONIYO-EKITI, which is the reason why the recent incident of attack on a Christ Apostolic Church occurred in that axis.
“While the Command is focused on the mission at hand and will not want to engage in unnecessary arguments with any propagandist, it wishes to state categorically clear that the claim by some so called activists that there is no security at Eda Oniyo-Ekiti Community is totally false and an attempt to discredit and ridicule the efforts of the Government and the Security agencies in the State.
“While there might be no Police Division at Eda Oniyo-Ekiti Community, Iye-Ekiti Divisional Police Headquarters perfectly covers both Iye-Ekiti and Eda Oniyo-Ekiti Communities.
“The Police Operatives from Iye Division have always engaged in constant visibility patrol in Eda Oniyo-Ekiti. In addition, there are about three military bases/check points along that axis that cover up to Eda Oniyo-Ekiti Community, with constant military patrol.
“More so, the government, in collaboration with the security agencies in the State, considering the ongoing aggressive onslaught by the Military, the Police and other security agencies on the criminal elements in our neighbouring States of Kwara, Kogi, Osun and some Northern Parts of the Country, and the likelihood that the operations will force criminal elements to migrate into South-West in search of safe haven, regroup and cause havoc on innocent citizens, set up a Joint Task Force that comprises the Military, the Police, DSS, NSCDC, Amotekun Corps, Agro Marshal, Vigilante and Local Hunters groups to engage in a special bush combing operations, visibility patrols and constant monitoring of the rural areas especially the border towns.
“These security setups and operations do not exclude Eda Oniyo-Ekiti Community, and have been ongoing successfully and perfectly well without any complaint of inadequate security coverage by anybody or group of persons from the community, not until the last incident occurred.
“It is also in record that the Military, the Police and other security agencies moved to the scene of crime immediately the incident was reported and combed the bush up to neighboring Kwara State for the possible rescue of the victims and the arrest of the perpetrators.
“The State Commissioner of Police, CP FALADE ADEGOROYE MICHEAL, equally moved with his team from Ado-Ekiti to scene of crime that very night at about 2300hrs and was on ground till the following day.
“While the Police and other security agencies including the local security outfits are currently focused on rescuing those abducted in the last incident and putting in place measures to forestall reoccurrence, members of the public particular the self-acclaimed internet activists are advised to always engage in constructive, solution-driven and meaningful criticism rather than engaging in unnecessary, emotionally and politically driven criticism.
“It is also unfortunate that some persons, in the name of gaining social media engagements for their pecuniary purpose, have shifted from investigating the vulnerability that led to the incident to attacking the government and the security agencies.
“It is in record that the organizers of the program, despite the vulnerable venue and time, never informed the police or any security agency for the provision of adequate security before, during and after the program.
“Those who may still want to blame the security agencies are kindly advised to visit the scene of crime and measure its proximity to the town.
“While members of the public are charged to be vigilant, security conscious and avoid any action that could expose them to easy attacks by criminal elements, the Command calls for calm as effort is ongoing to ensure the successful rescue of the victims and the arrest of those behind the dastardly act.
“The Command will continue to prioritize the security of lives and property of all residents of the State.
“Members of the public are implored to continue to trust, support, collaborate with the Police and other security agencies in the fight against crimes and criminality. Credible and timely information supply will help in nipping crimes in the bud before they occur”.
