Ajoni Communities Laud Oyebanji’s Swift Security Response, Demand Sustained Offensive Against Bandits

Residents of Irele and Ijowa communities in Ajoni Local Council Development Area of Ekiti State have commended Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for his prompt security intervention following recent bandit attacks, while calling for sustained and intensified efforts to permanently rid the area of criminal elements.

In a letter addressed to the governor and made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the communities expressed “profound appreciation” for the rapid deployment of military personnel, working in collaboration with local vigilantes and hunters, which they said helped to break the siege imposed by bandits on their towns and farmlands.

The letter, jointly signed by community leaders including High Chief Samuel Kehinde (Akogun of Irele-Ekiti) and High Chief Adebayo Gbenga (Oluaofin of Ijowa-Ekiti), noted that the intervention restored a degree of normalcy, with roads becoming safer and residents able to move without the heightened fear that previously gripped the area.

According to the signatories, the operation also led to the arrest of two suspected bandits who have since been identified by some victims and are currently in detention. They described the arrests as a significant step toward restoring public confidence in the justice system and government responsiveness.

“Your swift intervention… broke the siege that had held our people hostage. The bandits have largely ceased fire, and the roads we once traveled with prayer are now passable without panic,” the letter read in part.

Despite the relative calm, the communities warned that the threat of banditry has not been completely eliminated, stressing that lingering fear persists among residents who still report movements of suspected criminals around forests and farm settlements.

They observed that farmers now move in groups for safety, while daily activities, especially in the evenings, remain restricted due to fear of possible reprisals. “The quiet is not peace — it is a pause,” the letter emphasized, highlighting concerns that the bandits could regroup if decisive action is not sustained.

To address the situation, the communities urged the state government to ensure thorough investigation and prosecution of the arrested suspects, including efforts to dismantle their wider networks of sponsors and informants.

They also called for a comprehensive forest clearance operation involving security agencies and local hunters familiar with the terrain, aimed at flushing out any remaining criminal elements hiding in the forests.

In addition, the residents appealed for increased logistical and financial support for local vigilante groups and hunters who have been assisting security forces, noting that their effectiveness depends largely on adequate equipment and welfare.

The letter underscored the strategic importance of Irele and Ijowa as key agricultural hubs in Ekiti State, warning that prolonged insecurity could negatively impact food production and the local economy.

“We are food baskets. When our hoes do not touch the soil, Ekiti’s pot does not boil,” the communities stated, urging the governor to sustain the momentum until total peace is achieved.

While acknowledging the burden of leadership, the signatories reaffirmed their support for the state government and pledged cooperation with all lawful measures aimed at restoring lasting security across the Ajoni axis.