Oyebanji orders Police, DSS, Amotekun to arrest abductors of Ekiti APC chairman
Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti on Sunday directed the Police, DSS, and Amotekun Corps to free the abducted State Chairman of the APC in Ekiti, Mr. Paul Omotoso, and two others from captivity.
Oyebanji, represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Monisade Afuye, gave the directive on Sunday, when he visited Omotoso’s family at Imesi-Ekiti, Ayekire Local Government Area of the state, to sympathize with them on the devastating incident.
He stated that Omotoso shouldn’t only be rescued unscathed; the perpetrators of the dastardly act should be nabbed and made to face the full weight of the laws.
The former Commissioner, Omotoso, and two others were abducted by gunmen along the Agbado-Imesi road on Saturday and whisked to an unknown destination.
According to information from family members, Omotoso is said to have attended a wedding at Ikare Akoko, in Ondo State, and was returning to Ado-Ekiti when the evil men struck.
Similarly, the governor, who was received by the victim’s family, also visited the Onimesi of Imesi-Ekiti, Oba Olatunji Olatunde, to register his displeasure over the disturbing incident.
Oyebanji, in his instruction, directed the police and DSS operatives to combthe sprawling forests along Agbado-Imesi-Irun Akoko in Ondo State and other suspected areas to safely rescue the victims from where they are being held hostage.
The governor branded the incident as verytroubling and disturbing, saying his government would continue to step up efforts to tighten the noose on those who are occasionally terrorizing Ekiti through senseless kidnapping and making them face serious resistance.
As part of the ways to stamp out abduction in that axis of Ekiti, he assured that the state forest reserves extending from Agbado-Imesi-Ise would be reconstituted and put to use to dislodge those using the area as a hideout.
“Let me say that we are saddened by this news because we know the trauma this must have caused to his family members, his town, admirers, members of our great party in Ekiti, and Nigeria in general.
“You could all attest to the fact that insecurity like this has been on a downward trend since Oyebanji took over about nine months ago. We won’t allow any evildoer to jeopardize our strategy to make Ekiti safe for investments and habitation.
“I hereby charge the security operatives—the police, DSS, army, and other sister agencies—to rescue him alive from these evil doers and reunite him with his family safe and sound.
“Please, help us appeal to our youths not to take laws into their hands. They should remain peaceful and calm, and I can assure you that he will be released soon to join us,” he said.
During the brief visit to Onimesi, Oba Olatunde said his people were deeply saddened by the incident, saying the town had started organizing prayers to ensure the victim's safe return and reunite with the community.
Oba Olatunde said he had taken steps to calm down frayed nerves to avert any unrest from irate youths and subjects who became livid by Omotoso’s abduction.
“We are organizing prayers, and we are hopeful that he will soon be released. Everything points to the fact that he will soon be released because the government and security agencies are deploying every arsenal to ensure that he regains freedom soon.”
