By Idowu Adebomi, Ado Ekiti
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been called upon to declare a state of emergency in the security sector following a series of recent attacks attributed to suspected Fulani herdsmen in the state.
The appeal was made by a group of youths under the Owo General Assembly, in a petition submitted to the governor’s office on 7th April 2025, and subsequently made available to the press.
The youths, in their petition, expressed grave concerns about the deteriorating security situation, particularly in Owo town and its surrounding areas. They claimed that unscrupulous individuals had taken over local forests, engaging in illegal activities that have fostered fear and unrest in the historic town.
The petition, signed by the association’s president, Comrade Olamiposi Oyegoke, and secretary, Comrade Dammy Aina, outlined several demands. These included the immediate declaration of a state of emergency to address the growing threat from Fulani-related attacks, as well as a marked increase in security personnel, intelligence capacity, and tactical response teams in identified hotspots within the region.
The youths also called for the procurement and deployment of aerial surveillance drones, along with modern crime-mapping devices, to enhance real-time monitoring, reconnaissance, and tactical responses. Additionally, they urged the state government to ensure the prosecution of identified perpetrators.
The petition further requested that the judiciary be cautioned against granting bail to suspects involved in these attacks, especially when preliminary investigations and intelligence have pointed to their involvement.
In a separate development, a court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, today dismissed the case of cyberbullying against Comrade James Blessing Akeju and two others, citing a lack of merit.
Akeju and his colleagues had been remanded in custody following an allegation brought against them by the Ondo State Attorney General, Kayode Ajulo. Their incarceration sparked widespread protests by youths and students across the state, who demanded their immediate release. Following the court’s decision, jubilant youths took to the streets of Akure, celebrating the ruling.
