Akinwunmi Ambode

Mr Adeniyi Saliu, Chairman, Eredo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Epe, said on Friday that the council has beefed up security to check crime in the area.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Eredo, near Epe that the aim was to check kidnapping and other crimes, especially in schools in the area.

.“I want to tell parents and students not to panic about security, as the state and local governments have put in place, measures to tackle security challenges in our locality.

“Schools will soon resume, we are assuring parents that kidnapping issue will not happen again in the local council,” he said.

NAN reports that Lagos State Model College Igbonla, where six male students were kidnapped on May 25 is located at Eredo LCDA.

.Saliu commended Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for taking proactive measures in tackling kidnapping in the state.

“Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode deployed several security agencies to the local council to patrol 24hours to combat kidnapping.

” The step taking by the state government really helped in checking kidnapping and other crimes in the council, ” he said.

According to the chairman, the council has also taken steps to support efforts of the state government in the fight against kidnapping.

“ Part of the step we have taken is to set up a vigilance group that works closely with the security agencies.

.“We have recruited a few of them and we are looking up to increase the number to 50…

“They are engaged to support government security agents to ensure the safety of lives and property in the area.

“ They work for 24 hours, Saliu said.

The chairman said security agencies would do periodic checks on members of the vigilance group to ensure that they are genuine staff.

“This is to ensure that they are actually working for the interest of the local government and residents.

” Once we are satisfied with their performances and reports by the security agencies, we will send the vigilance members to the police for further training,” he said.

(NAN)