The Ekiti State Government, has declared that the state is one of the most peaceful states in the South West region of Nigeria dispelling concerns about insecurity, and assuring tourists and businesses of the state’s robust security measures and welcoming environment.
The Director-General, Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Wale Ojo-Lanre who stated this in an interview with journalist at the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort in Ekiti, said the state government has put measures in place to ensure that the serenity being enjoyed in the state is not truncated by any unforeseen circumstance.
He stated that the government has strategic collaboration with security operative from the military, police, Civil Defence, and local hunters to maintain its peacefulness.
According to him, Ekiti has a lot of tourist attractions for tourism and nature lovers to explore that will make them feel at home.
He said: “Ekiti is very, very safe. The security situation in Nigeria is bad from Abuja to Lagos, there are many kidnappings taking place that are not reported. Ekiti is a sensitive area, and if there is any kidnapping at all, it will be at the northern side, because that is the area where we share border with Kogi State, that is where these things happen. People like to over sensational issues and that is how we kill tourism by sensational reports. There were kidnapping before but this has been contained in the past 7 months. There was kidnapping at the northern part of Ekiti bordering Kogi.
“So these things happen not in Ekiti but at the border with neighbouring state. For the past seven months there has not been any issue of kidnapping. There have been many efforts made by the Ekiti State government to make the state and its environ safe for tourist. We are the only state that has homeland security as a parastatal. We also use conventional and non-conventional means to tackle security situations when it arises.”
The Monarch of Ikogosi, Princes Omobola Adepoju Ni Olorunisola who also spoke to journalists, said the state has been peaceful with the re-enforcement of security personnel at strategic location in the town.
She said the Ikogosi resort has security officers that have been trained adequately to maintain peace in and around the environment.
“We have Amotekun Civil Defense, soldiers, hunters and agro-marshals who are securing the town. So, the town is relatively very, very peaceful”.
The General Manager, Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, Mr. Lanre Balogun who spoke at the resort said Ekiti State is the safest state in Nigeria statistically.
According to him, the Ikogosi town has been peaceful for the past two years, since the present managers of the facility, Glocient Hospitality took over the resort adding that there has never been any security challenge at the resort.
“We have been here for two years and there has not been any case of any security challenge in our locality. We are part and parcel of this society, the leadership of this resort are not from this town but Ikogosi flows in or veins”.
The Chief Security Officer, Cavista Holdings, Ibrahim Dauda stated that Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort is in a location whereby the crime rate is virtually zero.
According to him, “Based on the statistics available to us, we are almost at a zero-crime rate here. When you classify the crime into felony, sub-media, or simple offence, for the past six months that I have been here, have not witnessed any felony offence taking place. So there is no any major crime like murder, or any of these kinds happening. So definitely the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort is in an environment that is safe. And when you spread it to the state entirely, you look at the statistics of Ekiti state’s crime rate, you can Google it and see. Definitely, Ekiti is one of the safest states in Nigeria compared to other states, even in the southwest.
“So, the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, we have security agencies that are working here, conventional forces that are working here. ”
By Friday Nwosu
