By Ibrahim Kilani, Ikare Akoko.
Residents of Akoko in the northern senatorial district of Ondo state have welcomed the recent appointment of the state Amotekun boss, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye as special adviser on security to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Akoko communities have been battling the highest rate of crimes ranging from kidnapping of notable personalities, ritual killings to robberies in recent times.
One of the residents, an Erusu Akoko community leader and a retired lecturer at Federal College of Education, Okene, Kogi state, Mr Alabe Ajoungbade said Akogun Adeleye within the short time of been Amotekun boss, has performed creditably above his other colleagues in southwestern Nigeria.
Ajoungbade urged Adeleye to use his new position to reduce crimes in the state.
Ajongbade condemned in strong terms the recent kidnapping of a school principal, Elder Joshua Adeyemi of Auga Akoko secondary school, his vice principal and two teachers describing it as a wrong signal towards educational development of Ondo state.
Also speaking, Mr Bayo Awe, a lawyer from Okeagbe Akoko urged the new special adviser to be more proactive in his new assignment and give the Governor genuine advice on security matters that will make Ondo state free of criminals.
Awe lauded the efforts of Akoko monarchs and other stakeholders for their tireless efforts at reducing crimes in Akoko which is a gate in and gateway to Ondo state.
The Iyalaje of Ikare Akoko, Alhaja Risikat Mohammed in the same vein, said with insecurity, commercial and economic activities cant be very smooth urging the new special adviser to do the needful.
They were also unanimous in calling on Governor Akeredolu to recruit more Amotekun corps and post them to the border areas in Akoko like Aowa, Akunu, Auga and Isua.
They also appealed to the state government to liaise with the Army to be able to reinstate the checking points in Ondo state.
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