VIDEO: Reps Spokesman Rotimi Weeps Over Killings In Ekiti
There was a mild drama on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday when the spokesman of the house, Hon. Akin Rotimi (APC-Ekiti) wept while presenting a motion on the increasing killings in Ekiti State.
Presenting the motion, Rotimi said that there has been an increase in criminal activities in Ekiti North 1/Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency in recent times resulting in the loss of lives and property.
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He said that on Monday, January 29, 2024, criminals carried out a dastardly attack in the Oke-Ako area in Ikole Local Government Area resulting in the death of two traditional rulers.
The weeping lawmaker said that the Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti Oba Olatunji Samuel Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti Oba David Babatunde Ogunsola were killed in the attack while a host of others were left with life-threatening injuries.
Rotimi recalled that a commercial driver was recently killed between Ayedun and Ayebode by armed bandits, and that on Monday, a school bus carrying students was attacked and some students abducted in Emure Ekiti, where their whereabouts is still unknown.
The reps member said that the constituency is exposed to peculiar security challenges due to the nature of its forests and topography.
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According to him, it’s more painful because Ekiti Federal roads are some of the most dilapidated in the entire country.
He said that the late Onimojo was an intellectual and highly intelligent historian and orator who always spoke truth to power.
There was an outpouring of emotions by his colleague who said that the late Elesun was a peace-loving king who was very hands-on in the development of Esun-Ayedun communities.
“Because of the topography of the area, and the bad roads, there has been an incursion of murderous elements who parade themselves as herdsmen leading to heightened insecurity,” the reps member said.
He said, “The entire people of Imojo in Oye and Esun in Ikole Local Government Areas and the entire state have been thrown into mourning on account of the loss of our highly revered traditional rulers who were forces for community development, peace, and stability in the constituency and the entire state.
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“The Nigeria Army has a military outpost on the road, which has been non-functional, as they only patrol on Tuesdays, leaving the communities exposed for the rest of the days,” he said.
The house urged the Chief of Army Staff to redeploy the military to the outpost along the Oke-Ako area to enhance security and forestall a repeat of attacks.
The legislators urged the Inspector-General of Police, the Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp, and other security agencies to deploy more men to Ekiti North 1.
They charged the security agencies to ensure that those who carried out the dastardly acts are fished out and brought to justice.
The lawmakers also tasked the security agencies to put all measures in place to rescue the school children and teachers in Emure Ekiti.
The House urged the Ministry of Works and FERMA to immediately rehabilitate the Ayedun to Irele road, and other roads in the Federal Constituency.
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The House observed a minute silence in honour of the memory of the dearly departed monarchs.
In his ruling, the Speaker of the house, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas the House Committee Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance and report back to the House within two weeks for further legislative action.
