THE gruesome killing of Mr Taiwo Akinyemi, a staff of the bursary department, at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, by suspected kidnappers after being held in their den for six days have once again brought to the fore frighten spectre of kidnapping, insecurity and the breakdown of law and order being unleashed on innocent people across the country.

AKINYEMI died on Sunday after three others were abducted along with him by gunmen in police uniform in Amurin Village on the Akure-Owo expressway in Owo Local Government Area of the state.

WHILE three others who are members of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo were freed after paying unspecified huge sums of money as ransom, Akinyemi got killed for late payment of the illegal discharge fee.

WE are appalled like most Nigerians over the level of insecurity across the country and in particular in Ondo State just few days after the state Police Command voluntarily pledged to secure lives and property in the state.

IN the words of the Command’s spokesman, Femi Joseph “we will ensure that Ondo State is safe for all”

IT is worrisome that few days after that assurance, kidnappers have torn that hope into hopelessness forcing officers, men and women of the command to lick their wounds.

THE barometer of gauging security is when citizens enjoy unfettered movement devoid of terror. Travelling on our roads today is nightmarism and a big gamble with lives and property in jeopardy. No one is sparred in this season of anomie. The audacity and brazen display of terror by bandits across the state against innocent people leave hapless innocent citizens gasping for breath.

IN concrete evaluation, the police in Ondo State as the most visible arm of law and authority have failed woefully to respond to the challenges of terror by kidnappers which has culminated in the death of citizen Akinyemi.

IT is doubtful if the police can extricate itself from the poor management of the kidnapping saga, the ransom paid by those freed and the cruel murder of Akinyemi by his abductors.

BELIEVE it or not, the Ondo State Police command has not impressed anybody in the handling of recent kidnapping in the state. Even the operational intelligence deployed by the police to arrest the suspects appear weak and unserious.

APPREHENSION is mounting among the people of Ondo State over the shoddy manner in which the kidnapping Saga had been handled.

THE incessant insecurity in Ondo State is undermining the laudable economic and industrialization efforts of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

ONDO State Commissioner of Police, Mr Gbenga Adeyanju must redefine and fashion out a new security architecture for  Ondo State to secure lives and property.

IN their projection, men and women of the command must realize that no development or economic activities can flourish in an atmosphere of insecurity.

SECURITY remains the foundation of any economic activity and nothing must be spared by the police to protect the citizens they are paid to protect. No excuse.

WE condole with the management and staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, the families, relations and wife of the deceased over the irreparable and needless loss of citizen Akinyemi . We hope the arrest of the suspects will atone for the trauma and psychological torture which the victims suffered in the hands of their abductors.