Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, yesterday gave a marching orders to the state Police Command, the Department of State Services (DSS) and Amotekun Corps to use security means to free the abducted state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Paul Omotoso, and two others from captivity.
Oyebanji stated that Omotoso shouldn’t only be rescued unscathed, that the perpetrators of the dastardly act be nabbed and made to face the full weight of the laws.
The former state Commissioner, Omotoso, and two others, were abducted by gunmen on Agbado-Imesi road last Saturday and taken to an unknown destination.
According to information from family members, Omotoso was said to have earlier attended a wedding at Ikare Akoko in Ondo State, and was returning to Ado Ekiti when the criminals struck.
Oyebanji, who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Monisade Afuye, gave the directive yesterday when he visited Omotoso’s family at Imesi Ekiti, Ayekire Local Government Area of the state to sympathise with them on the devastating incident.
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 stern instruction, directed the police and DSS operatives to comb the sprawling forests on Agbado-Imesi-Irun Akoko in Ondo State and other suspected areas to rescue the victims safely from where they are being held hostage.
The governor described the incident as very disturbing, saying his government would continue to step up efforts to tighten the noose on those who are occasionally terrorising Ekiti State through senseless kidnapping, and made them to face serious resistance.
As part of the ways to stamp out abduction in that axis of Ekiti State, Oyebanji assured the people that the state forest reserves extending from Agbado-Imesi-Ise would be resuscitated and put to use to dislodge those using the area as hideout.
During the brief visit to Onimesi, Oba Olatunde said his people were deeply saddened by the incident, saying the town has started organising prayers to ensure the victim’s returns safely 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
