The first deployment of Army personnel, by the Nigerian Army headquarters, arrived Ado- Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital on Thursday, as part of efforts to strengthen security across the nooks and crannies of the state.
The military personnel arrived at Ado- Ekiti around 9’ o’clock in the morning and converged on Fajuyi Pavillion, where they had a parade before departing to different locations for the commencement of their operations.
The troop was received by Brig General Ebenezer Ogundana (rtd), Special Adviser on security matters to Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
Ogundana noted that the deployment of military personnel followed a series of deliberations between the Governor and Service Chiefs in Abuja, prompted by recent violent incidents in the state, including the gruesome killing of two monarchs and the abduction of some school children and their teachers.
He emphasized the state’s firm stance against criminal tendencies and the determination of the state government to ensure that the forests being used as hideout for criminal activities were combed and free the state of all criminal infiltrators, stressing that the state would leave no stone unturned in the bid to preserve lives and properties of citizens.
While urging residents to maintain calm and carry on with their daily activities without fear, he urged them to promptly report any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
Justifying Governor Oyebanji’s multifaceted approach to combating criminality, Gen Ogundana said the government would continue to safeguard the lives and properties of Ekiti State citizens by all possible means, even while working hard to bring all perpetrators of the heinous crimes to book.
Welcoming the soldiers to the State, Hen Ogundana assured them of the state government’s preparation to support their mission and make their stay in the state worthwhile.
Briefing journalists shortly after their parade, the Commander of the troop, Brig. Gen, John Lar, said the men and officers were on special mission to comb the various hideouts of criminals and bandits in their various hiding places in the forests.
Brig. Gen. Lar affirmed that the activities of the military in the state would commence immediately as he sought cooperation of residents during the military exercise in the state to enable them achieve the desired success.
He commended the Chief of Army staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, for deploying additional troops to support and strengthen military activities in the state, adding that they were set to expose hideouts of all bandits and criminals in the state.
While stressing that the military would work all day and night to clear the forests of infiltrators, Brig. Gen. Lar, disclosed that the military personnel would be swiftly deployed to their designated positions, emphasizing on heightened border surveillance to dismantle criminal networks operating within the forests.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Government on Thursday distributed 10,000 50kg bags of maize to livestock farmers across the State.
Speaking while distributing the grains to the benefiting Farmers associations; the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade explained that the palliative measure, the third of its kind by the government, is primarily targeted at boosting the production of livestock farmers.
Boluwade said that the Government’s gesture was in recognition of the need to rejuvenate Livestock farms with the focus on food security, creation of employment opportunities and production of protein amongst others.
He noted that “free maize grains distribution to poultry farmers in the State would go a long way in alleviating the problem of high cost of poultry feeds and availability of maize input in the poultry business. A lot of poultry farms were winding down due to the burden of high cost of feed leading to serious concern on food security, production of protein and job security amongst others.
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