Oyebanji Seeks Synergy Among Security Agencies, Youth In Ekiti

The Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has called for a synergy among security agencies operating in the state and youth.

Oyebanji said the synergy would bring about a culture of mutual respect and serve as a panacea to crises provoked by the brutality being suffered by the youth.

The governor spoke on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti during a Youth, Students and Security Stakeholders’ Engagement convened by the Ministry of Youth Development.

The meeting was convened to find ways of curbing the harassments of youths and students by security agents in the state.

Students and youth in Ekiti had threatened to stage a demonstration against the security agencies

Oyebanji, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Security Matters, Brig. Gen Ebenezer Ogundana, appealed to the students to see the security agencies as friends and partners.

While urging them to help expose criminals among their ranks to safeguard the state, the governor asked the representatives of the youths and students to ensure that those posing as security threats were exposed.

Oyebanji declared that his government would not look on and allow youth and students to be harassed under any guise.

He said: “Let the students and youths leaders go and tell their colleagues to always respect the law. This is the only way to build a just and violence free society. Let us live together as family members. We all know the criminals among us. Try and expose them.

“We know that not all the students and youth in Ekiti are criminals. But if the bad ones are not pointed out and used as scapegoats, then you will continue to suffer unduly. It is not right for you to shield criminals.”

Oyebanji admonished the hoteliers operating in the state to be security conscious around their business premises, saying their businesses should not be done at the expense of the security of the populace.