By Joseph Kanjo, Ondo
Communities under Ebijaw ward, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, have called on the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, to, as a matter of urgency, deliver them from incessant robbery attack by putting in place security personnel in entrances to their area.
This is coming as gunmen numbering eight reportedly invaded Temewei-Emi Zion and Ebijaw communities at about 10pm of Thursday night and started shooting sporadically into the air, thereby leading to pandemonium.
The gunmen reportedly carted away valuables from d communities, including cash and injured several persons in the process.
Speaking on behalf of the communities, Mr. Kem Epere Lamene said there is a looming danger in the area if something urgent is not done.
He said it will be a double tragedy for them if, after being abandoned by the government, they still suffer from robbery attacks in their domain.
Mr. Lamene, who was reacting to the robbery incident said there was urgent need for the Akeredolu-led government in the state to rise up to the challenge of protecting the lives and property of the people in the area, adding that he swore to do so and the people in this area must not be left out.
He lamented that no single security at both the waterways and land entrances to these communities hence armed robbers come at will to carry out their evil operations.
According to him, if not of recent, armed robbery was alien to the area, just as he added that since he has been on the planet earth for over five decades such has not been recorded.
“This armed robbery we have been experiencing of recent is odd in our area. I was born in the area over five decades ago, what we are experiencing of recent has not happened before. If I may ask, what is really happening? What is the cause of these armed robbery in our area? This is really a bizarre!
“I am using this medium to plead to our governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu to rise to the protection of the lives of our people he vowed to protect; no one seems to be safe in the area. We can no longer close our eyes and sleep anymore; everyone is scarred. So, once again, I am calling on the governor to protect our lives which he took oath to protect,” he pleaded.
Mr Lamene, who said that the area has been neglected by previous and present administration in the state, lamented that no single government presence in the area.
He disclosed that political office holders only come to seek for their votes when they are seeking elective position and after that “vanish into the tiny air” without any accessibility to them (politicians).
Mr. Lamene, who further disclosed that Ebijaw ward as whole has no accessible road, electricity, drinkable water, functional healthcare, college, etc, said the only road approved for them by the NDDC as been blocked by some politicians.
“We have no road, no electricity, no drinkable water. Our people drink from the dirty Owena river and stream. We have no hospital. The only road approved for us by the NDDC, some well-connected politicians have denied us. But I know our God will fight for us and give us what belongs to us.
“If I may ask, is it because we are Ijaw people under Odigbo and that is why the government shows no concern for our area? We have a chairman in the council; we have a house of assembly member representing us; we have a house of rep member at the lower chamber; we have a senator, and we have a governor, but unfortunately non of these people show concern about our plights. We are native of the place and not strangers.
“We are neglected, abandoned and forgotten by the government. Governance is alien to us, as there is no single thing from government you can point at in our area. We, as a people, we have been trying our best through community effort, but government must give us governance, and good one for that,” he said.
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