From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Worried by the rising insecurity in the country and particularly the two incidents that occurred recently in Ekiti state on the same day where two traditional rulers were gruesomely murdered in Oke-Ako, Ajoni Local Council Development Area in Ikole-Ekiti while returning from a meeting and the abduction of some pupils, teachers and a bus driver of a private school in Emure -Ekiti, Emure Local Government Area of the state, an Ekiti- born security expert and a member of the British Royal Air Force, Hon Opeyemi David Falegan, has volunteered to train operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) codenamed Amotekun and some other local security outfits to combat crime in the state.
The security expert who hails from Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State is the Founder of Opeyemi David Falegan Foundation (ODF). He cautioned against the politicisation of kidnapping, banditry and other criminal offences saying, governments should accord them urgent attention.
Falegan disclosed his readiness to provide security training services for local security outfits in Ekiti on a pro bono basis in a statement he personally signed and provided to newsmen.
The statement reads:
“Let me train the Amotekun. I still believe in the local intelligence. Recognition of the local / domestic intelligence which are the local vigilantes, working with them can give tips and other information about suspicious behaviour to uncover who might be involved and for what purposes.
“This issue of kidnapping should not be seen from the political angle but rather as a matter that needs urgent attention.”
He also advised the Ekiti state government to involve Security experts in this area, “who would give the government adequate advice in bringing this problem to an end.” He is therefore offering himself and his skills without cost as a security expert.
He urged government to buy more visible equipment “rather than the ones that are on paper because insecurity would hamper industrialisation and sustainable development in the state.
“Using of modern day technology can play a huge role in reducing insecurity in the state, equipment like
drone, ground control station, and compact biometric search-scan systems.”
He condemned in the strongest terms the killing of the revered monarchs and the abduction of the innocent pupils and their teachers.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the gruesome killing of two traditional rulers at Oke-Ako in Ajoni Local Council Development Area and abduction of school pupils in Emure-Ekiti.
“These incidents are sad and quite unfortunate. This is a call on the government both at the federal and state levels to redouble their efforts in order to put a stop to these barbaric acts.
“I commiserate.with the bereaved families and my heart goes out to the families of the school pupils, teachers and the bus driver abducted.”
Falegan called on the security agencies in the state to intensify efforts in bringing the perpetrators of the
heinous crimes to book.