Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, on Tuesday, expressed worries over incessant killings and kidnappings across the country, urging the security agencies to fish out the killers of the two monarchs in Ekiti State.
Oba Balogun, in a statement in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, by his Personal Assistant on Media, Oladele Ogunsola, condemned the gruesome murder of the two Ekiti monarchs and a nursing mother alongside her own mother, who had gone for post-natal care of the younger woman, among several others.
The Ibadan monarch commended the security agencies for the reported feats recorded in the last two weeks, decimating the camps of the criminals and freeing some abductees.
But he asked them to keep up the tempo, noting that “the war against kidnapping and other threats against the nation’s corporate existence is a task that must be done.”
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen, had on Monday killed two traditional rulers in Ekiti State.
The incident was said to have occurred between Oke-Ako and Ipao-Ekiti in Ajoni Local Government Area of the state.
The two royal fathers – Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area and Elesun of Esun Ekiti in Ajoni, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, were attacked by the gunmen while retuning from a meeting.
Olubadan, who hosted the Zonal Commander of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, Zone 1, comprising Oyo and Osun States, Oluwatoyin Titus-Awobuyi acknowledged the efforts being made by the agency to eliminate abuse of drugs in the country and Ibadan in particular with a promise to assist it within his capacity.
Olubadan noted that the evil effects of drug abuse could not be over emphasized, saying nothing done to check the menace would be too much.
“It is on this basis I appreciate all what you are doing and as requested, I won’t hesitate to give your agency my absolute and total support. As you rightly pointed out, a lot of vision have been killed and many glories buried untimely due to effect of drug abuse. No serious community that looks towards a bright future would not join hands with an agency like yours to rid the community of such menace. You can count on my support and cooperation at all times,” Olubadan stated.
He assured the agency of networking the members of his Advisory Council, the Mogajis and Baales towards achieving its set objectives of riding the metropolis of those connected with the menace of drug abuse.
Earlier, the Zonal Commander, Titus-Awobuyi, had told Olubadan the aim of the agency to wage serious war against the abuse of drug, saying, “if and when a ritualist, who might have kidnapped somebody for ritual purpose is apprehended, it would take grace of God and quick intervention of the police to escape lynching, but, those selling hard drugs kill a lot of people without notice.
“The agency is concerned and worried about the activities of those selling hard drugs in our communities because they are destroying a lot of futures. We have come to solicit for your royal support as we intend to reach out to every nook and cranny of the metropolis to fish out the culprits. We want to plead for the cooperation of our leaders at the community level by helping in identifying the culprits,” she added.