By correspondent.
Hon.Paul Omotoso.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State on Sunday,ordered a marching order to the Department of State Services(DSS), the State Police Command and Amotekun Corps to contrive security means to free the abducted State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti, Hon. Paul Omotoso.
Oyebanji, represented by his Deputy, Chief Monisade Afuye, gave the order when he visited Omotoso’s family at Imesi Ekiti, Ayekire Local Government Area of the state to sympathise with them on the devastating incident.
Oyebanji, in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Victor Ogunje, stated that Omotoso and the other two victims shouldn’t only be rescued unscathed, that the perpetrators of the dastardly act be nabbed and made to face the wrath of the laws.
Our correspondent gathered that a Omotosho,aformer Commissioner and two others, were abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Agbado-Imesi road on Saturday evening and and whisked them to unknown destination.
According family sources, Omotoso was said to have earlier attended a wedding at Ikare Akoko, 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 stern instruction, also directed the police and DSS operatives to comb the sprawling forests along Agbado-Imesi-Irun Akoko, 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 troubling and disturbing, saying that his government would continue to step up efforts to “tighten noose on those who are occasionally terrorising Ekiti through senseless kidnapping, and made to face serious resistance.’
As part of the ways to stamp out abduction in that axis of Ekiti, Oyebanji assured that the state forest reserves, extending from Agbado-Imesi-Ise, woukf be resuscitated and put to use to dislodge those using the area as hideout.
He daid:“The Ekiti State Government under the leadership of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, received with sadness, the kidnap of the State CHairman of APC, Hon Paul Omotoso.
“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 and the whole country at large.
“You could all attest to the fact that insecurity like this had been on a downward trend since Governor Oyebanji took over about nine months ago. We won’t allow any evil doer to jeopardise 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 (Omotoso) will be released soon to join us”.
Receiving the governor’s representative in his palace, 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.
The traditional ruler told the governor that 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 organising 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 his freedom soon,” the royal father said.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
