Kehinde Adewole, Ado Ekiti
The Ekiti State Government has said it would recommend the establishment of more police posts in its communities that share boundaries with neighbouring states to tackle insecurity.
Deputy governor of the state, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, also disclosed that perimeter fencing would be constructed in all public primary schools in the state to ensure security of pupils and teachers.
Egbeyemi said the state government placed a high premium on security of lives and property of the people of the state hence it is working round the clock to ensure their safety.
According to a statement, issued on Sunday, by his Special Assistant (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola, Egbeyemi made the disclosure while responding to requests made by community leaders from Imesi Ekiti in Gbonyin Local Government Area who visited him in his office.
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The community leaders led by the Regent, Mrs. Mabel Essoh, had voiced their objection to a request for autonomy by Okun Quarters in Imesi.
Egbeyemi, who said government would not fold its arms and allow security breach under whatever guise, said security needs to be beefed up boundary communities in Imesi to prevent criminals from infiltrating the state.
He explained that security posts at boundary towns and construction of perimeter fencing in schools are part of measures to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Egbeyemi’s words, “On your school request, you will start seeing contractors before March, we have advertised all primary school that would be renovated, in fact, we would fence some schools to prevent intruders.”
According to him, the recent presentation of cheques to communities to enable them commence work on abandoned projects in their areas are part of efforts to ensure development in the grassroots.
The deputy governor dropped the hint that the Federal Government would soon commence the reconstruction of Ado-Ikare Road which passes through Imesi and links the state with Akoko area of Ondo State.
Stressing the commitment of the Fayemi administration to infrastructural development, Egbeyemi added that completion of works at Egbe Dam would increased the supply of water to communities in the state.
The deputy governor who warned that no quarter in Imesi has been granted autonomy warned that anybody parading himself as a king aside the recognised monarch in the community risks going to jail.
Earlier, spokesman of the community, Chief Oluwadare Adeyemo, demanded the establishment of a police station in Imesi and completion of the king’s palace.
Adeyemo also urged the state government to assist the community by renovating primary and secondary schools in the town, employing indigenes into civil service and stabling more polling units, among other demands.