BY DAYO JOHNSON

AKURE-WORRIED by the spate of insecurity and kidnapping in the oil producing communities in Ondo State, the Ilaje Local Government has set up a Vigilante group to curb the activities of kidnappers and other criminal activities in the area.

Inaugurating the group code named “ Neighbourhood Security Watch”, yesterday, chairman of the council, Prince Banji Okunomo, said the council could no longer fold its arm while the peoples’ life and property were being endangered by bandits.

Twelve Tri-Cycles were donated during the inauguration by the council to various youth groups in the area for commercial purpose and a brand new Hilux for the Vigilante group to aid its operations.

Okunomo said it was the responsibility of the council to provide security for the people, saying “lives and property of the people in the Local Government particularly at Igbokoda could no longer be guaranteed as the area has been overtaken by kidnappers and armed robbers who kidnapped and killed innocent people on daily basis.”

“Local government at an emergency security meeting held at Igbokoda with traditional rulers and security agents unanimously agreed that the vigilante group be constituted to compliment the Police and Naval efforts at getting the area rid of kidnappers. The group will work hand in hand with other security agents in the Local government warning that any member of the group indulging in nefarious activities will be dealt with according.

The chairman said the tri-cycle which are tagged “IROKO FRUITS would be distributed to the twelve political wards in the Local Government to mark the commencement of his administration’s accelerated empowerment programme and poverty eradication scheme.