Jolted by the bedlam of complex security problems threatening the peace and security of the state, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, last week spoke to the people on sundry security, land and chieftaincy crises undermining the peace of the state.
THE major thrust of his address was the influx of strange faces into the state, the activities of cultists, irresponsible use of social media and chieftancy and land disputes.
Arakunrin Akeredolu decried the level at which unknown persons flood into the state and directed that any unregistered herder be made to vacate the state’s forest reserves.
HE decried recent violent cult clashes in the state and directed security agencies in the state to clamp down on cultists and their sponsors.
ON social media use, Governor Akeredolu advised people to be cautious with the information disseminated on the social media, especially those pertaining to security issues
LASTLY, he described it as “ill-winds” the recent chieftaincy tussles in the state. and rolled out some measures to stem the wave of insecurity.
PARTS of the measures include, informing the government of new migrants into any domain, clamping down on people with illegal firearms and prosecution of people in possession of hard drugs.
HE charged the good people of Ondo State to be security vigilant and not leave security issues of the state to the government alone.
WE commend Arakunrin Akeredolu for addressing the state at this period. The broadcast was timely and precise. It shows that the governor is not only abreast of the security challenges of the state but ready to tackle them frontally.
NO doubt, Ondo State and South West Nigeria are having their share of security challenges the country is grappling with. The state is being invaded by strange and uninvited faces coming in droves.
AVAILABLE records show that these unwanted guests are contributory factors to waves of kidnapping, rape, killing, among other nefarious activities which the state and country presently witness. No responsible government can turn a blind eye and fold its arms pretending that all is well. We therefore charge every member of each community to report strange faces in their communities to the various security agencies in their domain. We encourage them to furnish the state security network, AMOTEKUN, privilege pieces of information that would be useful in apprehending hoodlums who have taken our environment by the jugular

WE charge the government to empower the Amotekun corps with the provision of essential security equipment that would enable them perform optimally. There is also the need to employ more officers to the corps in order to be more efficient. We therefore urge the government to think in this direction.
THE activities of cultists, as Arakunrin Akeredolu described them, arebecoming unbearable. Owo, Ondo and Okitipupa are notorious for this . Towns mentioned have become the hub of cultists due to blossoming drug cartels in the area. We encourage government to clamp down on the drug business and prosecute its leaders.
THE Hope believes that aside the arrest and prosecution of those involved in cultist -related activities government must also neutralise the thriving hard drug businesses in the areas. Unless this is done, there may not be an end in sight to the various clashes anytime soon.
ON purveyance of fake news, we admonish the government to be more flexible in media management and dissemination of information to journalists and the public. This is to guard against misinformation. Government must be proactive with information dissemination to the public through the press in order to curb the spread of fake news.
A state where firearms are indiscriminately held by unauthorised persons is prone to abuse and insecurity. is prone to insecurity. The Hope supports the government’s call on those in possession of such firearms to submit them. On the other hand, government should encourage people with a weapons to submit them with promise of reward. There must be an assurance that it would not prosecute those that surrender their weapons and that adequate security would be provided for people of the state.
WE appeal to people living in Okoja Quarter, Ikare-Akoko who are engulfed in a chieftain crisis to embrace peace. We feel that the ancient town does not want violence at this critical period of its life. Those that feel aggrieved over ‘an unpleasant decision’ could approach the court to seek redress.
THE Hope appeals to all citizens of the state not only to embrace peace, but also do everything that would promote peace in their domain. We also enjoin them to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement to the appropriate security operatives.