Victor Akinkuolie,  Ado Ekiti

Following the continuous cases of kidnapping and killings of innocent Ekiti people, retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries from the State civil service, have told the security agencies in the state, particularly the police to be alive to their responsibility of ensuring security of lives and property of the citizens.

The ex-bureaucrats said most worrisome was the recent kidnap and eventual killings of some local government officials while returning to Ado Ekiti from their duty posts.

They described the situation as not only devastating but saddening , taking cognizance of the fact that those killed were bread winners in their respective families.

They called for more deployment of personnel to strategic interstate roads for motorists to be save wherever they embark on their journey.

Recently, the Director of Administration of Gbonyin Local Government, Mr David Jejelowo and two staff of Emure Council Area, were kidnapped by abductors along Ado-Ijan and Ikere-Ise roads.

On the same day, an Accountant with the Emure Council Area, Mr. Abayomi Ajayi was shot by the same gang of kidnappers, who laid siege to highways across the state.

Acting under the aegis of Ekiti State Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, the top ex-civil servants told the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba and other security chiefs to look for ways to comb the forests being used by the bandits for their nefarious acts.

In a statement issued and signed by its Chairman, Mr. A. Ajayi and Secretary, Kunle Olofin after its meeting, they praised Governor Kayode Fayemi for placing high premium on the payment of salaries and allowances of the civil servants and pensioners, saying these would help in improving the economy of the state and the wellbeing of the citizens.

The statement said: “Members expressed worries over the deteriorating security situation in Ekiti State which has led to several kidnaps and loss of lives. Members appealed to the governor as the Chief Security Officer to ensure adequate deployment of security personnel to all the nooks and crannies , especially all the inter-state roads.

“We noted with satisfaction how government has been responding appropriately to the security situation . The charge to the traditional rulers to operate the first line of defence is welcome. The government should further interact with various communities and their vigilante groups with the view to enlisting their cooperation with security agencies in combing forests being used kidnappers’ dens.

“The hunters should monitor and report strange faces and movements in their farms and communities. We know that the coming on board of a new administration will open up windows of opportunities for investments and our roads must be protected to guarantee the safety of potential businessmen”.

The association pledged its partnership with government in identifying those areas that can smoothen government-labour relations and other sections of the society for Ekiti to be well governed under the Fayemi-led administration.

They urged the government to revisit the issue of gratuity to pensioners and parity of pension to make lives better for the citizens.