The Commissioner of Police, Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi held a stakeholders meeting at the Police Officers Mess GRA Ilorin on Monday having in attendance all the traditional rulers of towns and villages in both LGAs, in her renewed effort to finally put a stop to the incidents of kidnapping and sometimes killing of kidnapped victims in Isin and Ekiti Local Government Areas of Kwara State.
According to a press release on Tuesday, 25th July 2023 signed by the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, said that in her opening remarks, the CP expressed the urgent need to nip in the bud the incessant abductions and killings of victims by suspected kidnappers, especially in the last two weeks, both in Iwo-Isin and Isanlu-Isin, all in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Even though five of the suspected kidnappers have been arrested and five kidnapped victims have been rescued, while sadly two of the victims were brutally murdered by the kidnappers, the need to act now cannot be overemphasized. Consequently, to achieve this arduous task, all hands must be on deck.
CP Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi also reiterated the need for traditional rulers to work hand in glove with non-state actors in their various communities to support the efforts of the police.
She also noted that the possibility of some mischievous natives joining hands with the evil ones to perpetrate this dastardly act cannot be completely erased.
She, therefore advised the traditional rulers to warn their youths and others sabotaging the efforts of security agents to desist, or else the long arms of the law would soon catch up with them. While she also advised Fulani settlers, herders, and other non-natives to cooperate with their landlords in jointly fighting the common enemies, they should also warn herders among them to avoid night and child grazing to forestall issues of grazing of crops by their herds, which often causes conflicts between the herders and the farmers.
In his response, HRH Oba Olugbenga Oloyede Solomon, the Olusin of Isanlu-Isin, suggested some solutions to the challenges. He reiterated the need for more security personnel, vehicles, and other logistics, including motivating the vigilantes and hunters by providing them with mobility and stipends for efficiency in patrolling the long stretch forests surrounding their towns. He also advised his fellow traditional rulers to work with security agents by giving them timely and actionable information.
On his part, HRH (Prof.) Stephen Billy Olajide, the Olola of Olla Kingdom spoke of the need for police authority to provide necessary modern crime-fighting tools to the police, including CCTV cameras and drones both in the forests and towns. He said security has gone scientific the world over and Nigeria should not be left behind, while also suggesting that as Africans we must not fold our arms and give up because, according to him, there are other traditional means by which security challenges could be tackled.
In his submission, the Ardo of Fulani in Isin Local Government Area speaking on behalf of Fulani, herders and Miyetti-Allah in Isin expressed happiness for the convening of the meeting and pledged to support every effort put forward to take on the insecurities in the area, including forming a joint vigilante with the indigents. He said two of his sons had at one time or another been kidnapped, and he suffered before he could get them released. He accepted the challenge to be at the forefront of enforcing that night grazing and child grazing in the area were stopped.
At the end of the parley, it became evident that everyone present was ready and willing to see to the end of the challenges caused by these criminals with the way and manner many participants spoke at the meeting.
CP Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi, the Commissioner of Police, thanked the traditional rulers and other stakeholders for their patience and contribution during the duration of the meeting, promising that from time to time such meetings would be organized to review the security strategies implemented and make amends where necessary.
In attendance are Ardos, Jowuros, members of the Miyetti-Allah, Gaa-Allah, Vigilante, professional hunters, farmers, and others.
