Lagos State Government has again met with Obas, Baales and Chiefs from Ikorodu, Ikosi Ejinrin and environs on the spate of kidnapping and menace of Badoo cultists operating within the axis as part of efforts to eradicate the despicable acts in the state.

Speaking at a meeting held at the Secretariat, Alausa, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Muslim Folami, expressed the displeasure of the State Government with the development and charged the traditional rulers to “rise up to the challenges of these immoral activities as representatives of the government in their various domains.”

He said the incessant security issues peculiar to the axis need to be seriously addressed so that the vision of the State Government premised on a safe and secure Lagos would not be jeopardised, stressing that peace and security are prerequisites for a booming economy on which a Smart City thrives.

In his words, “The State Government is not indicting our royal fathers but we believe that as the leaders of the various communities, they are in the best position to provide useful information to the government on how to expose the perpetrators of these evil acts”.

The Commissioner, who attributed the increasing population of Lagos, on a daily basis, to the relative peace that prevails in the state, added that all hands must be on deck to sustain peace and make Lagos secured.

Responding, the Obas and Chiefs pleaded with the State Government to equip and empower local vigilante operatives in the affected communities to strengthen and consolidate the efforts of other security agencies providing security in the communities.

They said that Obas, Baales and Chiefs are equally disturbed about the security situation in their respective areas in recent times, stressing that they were doing everything within their power to restore normalcy to the affected areas.

According to them, their relentless efforts led to the arrest of few suspects already apprehended by security operatives.

They also sought the assistance of the State government in resolving boundary matters such that all the traditional rulers would know the scope of their jurisdiction and government would also know who to hold responsible for breach of security.

The Obas and Chiefs observed that abandoned landed property left undeveloped for years should be investigated and taken over by the government, noting that investigations revealed that such property does serve as hide-outs for miscreants and evil plotters.

“We want to call on the State Government to bring to book anyone found contravening the Law as well as investigate thoroughly the case of the alleged shrine owner recently discovered at Igbeyin-Ikosi in Ikosi Ejinrin LCDA,” the traditional rulers pleaded.