Insecurity: Ekiti Deploys Joint Security Patrol Team To Forests

Ekiti State government has launched a joint security patrol team to tackle all forms of insecurity in the state.

The special adviser on Security Matters to the Governor, Brig. Gen Ebenezer Ogundana (rtd) said the security team was launched to comb the bushes and secure borders.

The patrol team comprises the Army, police, NSCDC, DSS, Amotekun, Agro-rangers, and vigilante operatives, among other security agents.

Addressing newsmen during the launch of the joint security patrol for bush combing held at the state Police headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, Ogundana said the exercise is the continuation of the operation, which started last month.

He said, “Some of the communities in the state sharing borders with Kogi and Kwara states started crying out that their areas are under threat. Mr Governor quickly issued a directive to mobilise and move to the areas.

“By the grace of God, we were able to carry out extensive bush combing in those areas that pushed away the bandits and kidnappers that wanted to take charge of those communities bordering Kwara and Kogi states”.

Ogundana added that after phase one of the operation was analysed, the governor graciously approved its continuation.

“This is to reassure the people that the government is able to provide security for them, so that people can go about their normal businesses, not minding the situation in Kwara, Kogi, and Ondo States.

“It is in that spirit that we mobilised the heads of security agencies and decided that this morning we have to move out.

This is just to assure our people that they should go about their normal businesses and that criminals who think they can occupy anywhere in Ekiti State will be pushed out of wherever they are hiding in the state, that is the reason we mobilised as many troops as are available to that area”.

The governor’s aide, who stated that arrests were made in the first phase of the operation, said they are equally carrying out the same operation in Ondo state.

“We don’t want to take things for granted due to incidents happening in some neighbouring states recently, and we are taking care of all the critical areas we know some of these people can use to disturb the peace of the state”.

On his part, the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, said there is an effective synergy between all the security agencies in this state.

He said, “With that cooperation and the support of the government, we have nothing to complain about, and we will continue to maintain peace in this state.

“The major purpose of this bush combing operation is first to prevent the influx of criminals into Ekiti State. Based on field reports from the first assignment, the team was able to checkmate criminals’ attempts to infiltrate the state. However, we do not want to relax our efforts.’’