Ekamefa Communities Speak Out: Plea for Security Amidst Tragedy

Host communities, still reeling from the loss of two traditional leaders in late January, have finally raised their voices. In poignant letters addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ekiti State Governor Abiodun Oyebanji, these communities unveil the harrowing reality of nearly a decade of unreported violence, kidnappings, and fear.
Represented by the Ekamefa Peoples Congress (EPEC), comprising six historic settlements – Iyemero, Irele, Oke-Ako, Itapaji, Ipao, and Ijowa Ekiti – these communities shed light on the shadows of insecurity that have engulfed them for years.
“The recent killings of our revered traditional rulers have only illuminated the longstanding darkness of fear and uncertainty that has plagued our homes,” expressed the collective voice of the communities.
The letter, boldly titled “MURDER, KIDNAPPING AND THE CONTINUOUS TERROR SIEGE AND THREAT TO LIVELIHOOD IN EKAMEFA COMMUNITIES OF EKITI STATE,” bears witness to the anguish and desperation felt by those living amidst the violence.
Signed by prominent community figures including Evangelist Sam Bello, Mr. Jacob Erinfolami, Mr. Samuel Medayedupin, Mr. Femi Bodunde, Mr. James Odeleye, and Mr. Ige Oluwasegun, the missive outlines urgent demands for action.
Calling for immediate solutions to the scourge of armed banditry, the EPEC demands the establishment of police stations in each affected community, with a special emphasis on the recruitment of indigenous personnel for community policing efforts. They also stress the need for enhanced security outposts along border areas and provisions for local hunters to combat intruders effectively.
Moreover, the communities plea for the reconstruction of vital roadways to thwart the encroachment of terrorist elements into their midst.
Yet, amidst their appeals for security, the communities paint a poignant picture of a way of life under siege. Describing their forest-dependent existence and the ravaging of their ancestral lands, they highlight the environmental and cultural devastation wrought by the ongoing violence.
“Our forests, once a source of sustenance and spirituality, have become battlegrounds,” lamented the communities. “Our very way of life is under threat, as we face pollution, destruction, and the erosion of our cultural heritage.”
The tragic deaths of their traditional rulers, including the recent killing of General Segun Aremu-Cole, serve as grim reminders of the constant peril faced by these communities. Yet, they stress that these losses are but a fraction of the suffering endured over the years.
“With each passing day, our people live in fear, our children stay home from school, and our farms lie fallow,” they revealed. “We have borne this burden for too long, and now we call upon our leaders to act.”
In a poignant plea for action, the communities urge President Tinubu, Governor Oyebanji, and all stakeholders to heed their cries for help. They implore for not just words of condolence, but tangible measures to secure their lives, their lands, and their futures.
As the Ekamefa communities await a response, they stand united in their resolve to reclaim their homeland from the grip of fear and violence.