Ekiti: Oyebanji, Obas Meet, Discuss on Security Measures

Concerned by the spate of killings and kidnappings in Ekiti State in recent times and the gruesome murder of HRM Oba Samuel Olusola Olatunji, the Olumojo of Imojo and HRM Oba David Ogunsakin, the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, convened an emergency meeting of the state Council of Traditional Rulers with the echelon of the state security agencies in attendance.

At the end of the meeting, the Council of Traditional Rulers resolved as follows:

1. That the Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers was deeply saddened by the murder of two of its members, HRM Oba Samuel Olusola Olatunji, PhD, the Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti and HRM Oba David Ogunsakin, the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti and the abduction of school children and their teachers in Emure-Ekiti same day, Monday January29, 2024.
2. Council condemns in strongest terms, the sacrilegious and brutal killing of its members and the kidnap of school children and their teachers in Emure-Ekiti.
3. Council calls on governments at all levels to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law in no distant time.
4. Council further calls on the Federal Government to deploy more security personnel to Ekiti as the state is generally underpoliced.
5. Council demands that the state government should empower traditional rulers with adequate resources to police and secure their domains.
6. Council members have been directed to take all necessary measures to ensure all forests currently occupied by bandits and kidnappers are rid of criminals immediately and that no bushes and forests are occupied by anybody henceforth.
7. Council calls on all regular and native security systems to work together to end all manner of criminality in the state.
8. Council appeals to all Ekitis, home and broad, not to panic nor apprehensive as drastic measures will be collaboratively taken to ensure Ekiti is secured.
9. Council calls on patriotic Ekiti indigenes all over the world to generously support their communities to provide local security arrangements to protect lives and property in all communities.
10. Council commends the governor for providing quality leadership at this time and encourages him to remain focused.
11. Council commiserates with the bereaved families and communities of the late Obas and prays for the repose of their souls in eternal rest.

HRM Oba Ayorinde Ilori Faboro,
Ajiboyede III
Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti &
Chairman, Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers

January 31, 2024.