Lagos assures farmers of adequate security

LAGOS State government on Monday assured farmers in the state of government’s readiness to tackle the scourge of kidnapping by providing adequate security to ensure safety of lives and property.

Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, who represented Governor Ambode, gave this assurance during a meeting with representatives of farmers and community leaders of Igbodu/Isiwo axis of Epe area of Lagos, who had staged a peaceful protest to the Governor’s Office to demand government’s intervention in the area.

Adebule expressed her displeasure with the development, stating that in spite of government’s efforts to make the state safe and livable for residents and investors, some unscrupulous persons still engaged in criminal activities in order to make life difficult for their fellow human beings.

“Let me assure you that the state government is not resting on its oars. We are doing all we can to guarantee the safety of lives and restore peace in the area. Currently, the state government is speaking with the Federal Government to see how they can work with us to combat the problems of insecurity because we cannot do it alone.

“We sympathise with you and we beg for your understanding. I will relay your complaints to Governor Ambode for further and appropriate action on the matter,” Adebule said.

Mr. Ayokunle Ore, a spokesperson for the group, said that their farms had been under sustained attacks by kidnappers since September 2016.

He urged the state government to seek the support of the Federal Government to extend the mandate of the Joint Taskforce (JTF) to Igbodu/Isiwo axis of Epe to curtail the high rate of kidnapping in the area.

While thanking the state government for finding time to meet with them, he pleaded that the issue of kidnapping in the area needed to be handled as a matter of urgency as their investments had been going down the drain and their lives at risk.

“With the desire to contribute our quota to national food security and sufficiency, we have invested our lifetime savings and borrowings from banks to establish farms in the agricultural belt created by the state government,” he said.