Ondo Assembly summons security chiefs over insecurity in the state
By Awodeyi Elizabeth
The Ondo State House of Assembly has invited the Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Security, Olugbenga Atiba, and the State Amotekun Commander, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, to brief lawmakers on the state of security on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
The house made the call at the plenary sitting presided over by the speaker of the house Rt Hon Olamide Oladiji.
The House expressed its dissatisfaction over the incessant kidnapping in the State. Also noted that the incessant kidnapping could be linking to an inferno drawing both the old and the young, the rich and the poor, to itself, stressing that it is a direct attack on the safety and livelihoods of hardworking citizen.
“As lawmakers, we will not allow Ondo State to become a haven for criminals, while we welcome all law abiding Nigerians who wish to live and conduct legitimate business here, we will not tolerate individual disguising themselves as a farmer while using our forest as hideout for illegal activities”.
He urged the security agencies to adopt more aggressive security strategies to combat the growing threat of kidnapping. “We need increase patrol, surveillance in collaboration with local vigilantes, the criminal must be made to understand that Ondo State is no longer a safe haven for them. We also called on the traditional rulers, community leaders, and village heads to remain vigilant and collaborate with securities agencies.
“We urge the State Government to deploy all necessary resources, financially and materially to the security agencies so that they can perform their works effectively and flush the criminals out of their hidden places”.
He also called on the people of Ondo State to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authority. “We must stand together against this growing threat. Ondo State belong to us all and we must not allow kidnappers to take it from us”.
Speaking, the Majority leader, Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi described the kidnapping as an unacceptable one, stressing that Ondo State has become a place that the people can’t sleep with their two eyes closed.
He called on security agencies to wake up and step up their games and rescue the people from the criminals. “It’s high time for our indigenous security agency, Amotekun to start carrying sophisticated weapons. Our people who voted for us are loosing confidence in us. These criminals wants to turn Ondo State to their base, but we won’t accept.”
He expressed the House’s readiness to do the needful and come up with appropriate law and acts they will go against criminals. We are ready to collaborate with Governor Aiyedatiwa to ensure that Ondo State returns to a safe place. Traditional rulers should also do something about this”.
He urged the people to report any suspicious movements around them and politicians should also stop covering miscreants and criminals.
Member Representing Akure North, Hon. Kolawole Ologede noted that the governor should call on the traditional rulers in Ondo State and hold meetings with them to stop harbouring criminals. He also urged the government to rejig the security agencies.
Other lawmakers noted that security agencies should be reinforced with gadgets to ensure that criminals are tracked down, adding that there’s need to agitate for state police as they will know the nooks and crannies and deploy necessary techniques to use, and also, Government should invest more on security.
The Lawmakers also opined that the government should sensitize the people on the need to be conscious of their environment and be careful about how they go about their business and the security should improve their daily routine.
The House in its resolution called on Government to give the people public orientation as regards the issue of kidnapping, urging State Government to invite all the royal fathers and the Chiefs let them be part of the major stakeholders that will channel their efforts in reducing the menace of kidnapping in Ondo State.
The House also resolved that all cases of kidnapping in various courts should be given accelerated hearing so that those that are guilty can be punished and this will serve as a deterrent to others, security agencies should be more equipped with sophisticated equipment.
“Federal Government should look into the creation of state police and equip them, resuscitate the Anti-kidnapping law, recruit more men into Amotekun Corps”.
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