From Jimoh Ahmed, Ikare Akoko
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Worried over the incessant kidnapping on the Owo/Ikare road, traditional rulers in Akoko land have strongly condemned the menace.

Some of the Akoko kings stated this with The Hope on Tuesday.

According to them, ” kidnapping has brought untold hardships on the people and endangering security  of  lives and peace of mind in the area.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Olubaka of Okaland, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, described  the development  as disturbing and embarrassing, saying this will ground the economy of Akoko completely as people and investors will run away from the place.

The Oba, however called on government to put in place more security measures to tackle the menace.

The monarch also called on the people of Akoko to support the government in its efforts to rid Akoko and the entire state rid of kidnappers and armed robbers.

Commenting on the disbandment of military checkpoints on the road, Oba Adebori said he  did not think this was responsible for the rise in the wave of kidnapping in recent times.

Similarly, the Akala of Ikaram Akoko,  Oba Andrew Momodu who described kidnapping on the Owo/Ikare road as unbecoming  suggested both short term and long term solutions to the problem.

Oba Momodu who is also the chairman of the Ondo Council of Traditional Rulers sub-committee on Security said in the short term, a military operation should be carried out by combing all the bushes in Akoko, especially along the Owo/Ikare road to dislodge all the kidnappers from their hideouts.

The traditional ruler also suggested that government should clamp down on sales of hard drugs, especially Indian hemp and tramadol.

He also suggested the registration of all Fulani in Akoko and other towns in the state while new ones should not be allowed to settle. He also called for settlers (Fulani) to report strange faces among them to their traditional heads and community leaders as well as  to be made responsible for the effective policing of their areas.

He equally called for the involvement of  local vigilantee groups in the security surveillance of the communities while local government councils should support the group with funding and education.

In the long term, Oba Momodu suggested that all the children of the Fulani should be given sound education since not all of them want to be herdsmen.

According to him, Fulani people should be brought to the mainstream of the society and this can only be achieved through education.

 In his contribution,  a community leader in Akoko, Alhaji Ibrahim Kilani has also suggested that the local hunters should be used in tracking down these kidnappers since they are conversant with the bushes and forests in the area.