The Ekiti State Government has urged residents to remain calm and dismiss panic over reports of banditry and security breaches in neighbouring Kogi and Kwara states.
The government insists it is in full control of the security situation and is mobilising local authorities to strengthen defences.
The assurance was given on Monday by the Special Adviser to the governor on security matters, Brigadier-General Ebenezer Ogundana following a quarterly security meeting that included heads of security agencies, chairmen of the 16 local government councils, and 22 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
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Ogundana confirmed that unusual activities in states bordering Ekiti, particularly Kogi and Kwara, have sent unholy signals to the state to the extent that it is creating panic among the people.
To counter this, Governor Biodun Oyebanji directed the meeting to harmonise security plans.
The primary focus of the engagement with the council chairmen was to work out plans to ensure security in all local governments, particularly those close to the turbulent states.
Also, the meeting focused on informing the public that the panic created is unwarranted, and the reports are not true, and ensured all stakeholders are on the same page to prevent the security issues in neighbouring states from escalating into the state.
Ogundana stated that Ekiti borders are well-secured with military and police presence against any incursion, affirming that the state’s intelligence and surveillance network remains strong and coordinated.
He emphasised that the state remains the safest state in the country due to existing measures and commended residents for their support in providing necessary intelligence.
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He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any unusual activity to security agencies without attempting to assess the information themselves.
“We want our people to be very vigilant and pay attention to small details. Let them send the information to the security agencies closer to them so that we’ll be able to make an adequate response”, Ogundana advised.
