- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
The Commandant of Agbekoya Peace and Unity of Nigeria (Ile Oduduwa Movement), Ekiti State Command, comrade Sunday Omoyajowo has described the establishment and proper funding of local security agents as the only solution out of the current security challenges facing Nigerians.
He said for Nigeria to overcome the challenges, government at all levels has a lot to do in order to put an end to the spate of insecurity ravaging the country.
Comrade Omoyajowo made this disclosure in an exclusive interview with TopNews at the Corps Barrack’s situation office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
He described Agbekoya as a security outfit which should saddled with community policing if properly fund and well structured by the government and philanthropists in the society.
According to him, “Security of our various communities in Nigeria remain the responsibilities of all of us. Those residing in the remote areas including the state capital has roles to play because they are members of the community who should be in charge of their domain and even in each of the towns, there are Chiefs who are dully responsible to those farmlands.
“Since we all know that criminals are not ghost, nobody should harbour criminals if we really mean business that we want this country to progress and free from the security challenges. It will surprise you that criminals get landlords and landlady’s who harbour them”.
Omoyajowo, however, called for concerted efforts by all to be security conscious and make sure that the state security apparatus been put in place by government should be seen as a collective effort by all segments of the community and not only government alone, but also the traditional rulers and that this monarchs as well need to be empowered financially and constitutionally.
He lamented that the rising cost of commodities like gaari, beans, rice even tomatoes in the market was as a result of herdsmen who are found of using their cows to feed on what someone has laboured for, and thereby destroyed the farm crops. He suggested that the traditional institutions should work in synergy with Agbekoya Peace and Unity of Nigeria especially in Ekiti State so as to find a lasting solution to the current woes.
His words: “Monarchs across the sixteen local government council and LCDA’s in Ekiti in collaboration with our people should take charge because Yorubaland have never experienced all these kidnapping of innocent citizens, killings for ritual and other social vices in Nigeria”
The Agbekoya leader, therefore, urged all levels especially the federal and state governments to provide all necessary materials such as uniforms, patrol vehicles, motorcycles and offices across length and breath of Ekiti for the use of local security personnels to combat criminalities and secure our land from strangers.
“We know all the nooks and crannies of our environment here in Ekiti than somebody from Northern or Eastern parts of the country do in terms of intelligence gathering”.
He stressed further that; “Criminals are not falling from the sky, meaning that they are also human beings like us and they live among people. Our people need empowerment from government to do the job effectively and efficiently”.
Comrade Omoyajowo added that, “As far as Agbekoya Peace and Unity of Nigeria is concerned, we are battle ready day and night. Our men are in all the nooks and crannies of Ekiti. Considering the influx of herdsmen in Yorubaland, we need to wakeup from our slumber and tackle all the security challenges before it is too late. Government need to give adequate recognition and proper attention to the local security outfit and see what they will bring to the table”.
