htHAAA! THEY HAVE ENTERED EDA ONIYO AGAIN! EKITI OOO!
See Me Dancing!
By Wale Ojo-Lanre, Esq.
Haaa!
They have entered Eda Oniyo again!
But look at me.
Can’t you see me dancing?
Yes, I am dancing!
Not because I am wicked.
Not because I rejoice over the misfortune of others.
But because I simply feel like dancing.
And the fact remains:
They have entered Eda Oniyo again!
Ekiti ooooo!
Who entered?
What happened this time?
Why must the name Eda Oniyo continue to appear in frightening news?
Why?
Why again?
My brother, have you heard the news?
Which news?
The latest news from Eda Oniyo!
Eda Oniyo?
Yes!
That border community in Ilejemeje Local Government Area?
Exactly!
The same Eda Oniyo where kidnappers recently struck?
Yes, the same community!
Ah!
Lord, have mercy!
Who entered the town this time?
How many people were taken away?
Was anybody killed?
Have the kidnappers contacted the families?
How much ransom are they demanding?
Calm down, my brother.
How can I calm down when you have just told me that they have entered Eda Oniyo again?
Nobody was kidnapped this time.
Nobody?
Nobody!
No criminal gang invaded the community.
No worshipper was dragged into the forest.
No ransom was demanded.
Then why are you raising my blood pressure?
Because somebody has struck Eda Oniyo again!
Who?
The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji!
Haaa!
The Governor?
Yes!
What did he do?
He struck Eda Oniyo with a military base!
What?
Yes!
Governor Oyebanji has approved the establishment of a military base in the Eda Oniyo border axis to strengthen security, protect lives and property, and prevent another criminal invasion of the community.
And he did not stop there.
The Governor directed his Special Adviser on Security, Brigadier-General Ebenezer Ogundana (retd.), to determine everything required for the establishment of the military base.
The Governor was emphatic:
“I want a military base at Eda Oniyo. It is extremely important. Whatever it is going to cost us, bring it to me; I will approve it.”
Chai!
That was the strike!
No gunshot.
No abduction.
No ransom negotiation.
Just a powerful governmental declaration capable of unsettling kidnappers, bandits and other criminal wanderers operating around the Eda Oniyo axis.
This time, Eda Oniyo is in the news for the right reason.
This time, the people are not crying for rescue.
They are witnessing a government determined to build a formidable security wall around their community.
This time, the forest will not belong exclusively to criminals.
This time, strange movements around the border will have official eyes watching them.
This time, those who once regarded Eda Oniyo as an unguarded passage may soon discover that the corridor now has landlords in uniform.
Governor Oyebanji also directed the speedy completion of the divisional police station already under construction in the community.
He further disclosed that a combined team of soldiers, police officers and other security personnel regularly patrols the border axis to prevent criminals from crossing into Ekiti State through neighbouring territories.
My people, permit me to dance!
Let the drums sound!
Let the agogo speak!
Let the people of Eda Oniyo breathe!
Let Ekiti people rejoice!
For once, let us report Eda Oniyo without announcing another abduction, ransom demand, protest or security tragedy.
Let us report soldiers arriving before kidnappers.
Let us report a police station being completed before another criminal gang gathers.
Let us report surveillance before invasion.
Let us report prevention instead of waiting to count casualties and console grieving families after tragedy has occurred.
This is the kind of strike that deserves applause.
Governor Oyebanji has struck Eda Oniyo with protection.
He has bombarded the community with governmental attention.
He has ambushed insecurity with political will.
He has kidnapped the confidence of prospective kidnappers—and he is demanding no ransom before returning it!
But let nobody misunderstand this satire.
What happened previously at Eda Oniyo was painful. Lives were disrupted, a pastor was killed, residents were abducted, and families endured an agonising ordeal that must never be trivialised.
The humour here is not directed at the victims or their suffering.
It is directed at the dramatic reversal: a community once placed in the news by criminals is now being placed in the news by a decisive security intervention.
A military base is not a decorative government project.
It must not become another signboard swallowed by weeds.
It must be properly established, adequately staffed and supported with effective intelligence gathering, functional communication equipment, accessible roads and genuine cooperation among the military, police, Amotekun Corps, local hunters, traditional institutions and residents.
The military formation and the divisional police station must become shields for farmers, traders, worshippers, travellers, women, children and every resident of the border axis.
Security should not merely arrive at Eda Oniyo.
It must remain there.
It must patrol.
It must gather intelligence.
It must prevent attacks.
It must reassure the people.
And it must make the entire border corridor extremely uncomfortable for criminals.
Governor Oyebanji deserves commendation for listening to the Eleda of Eda Oniyo, Oba Julius Awolola, and the delegation from the community.
He has declared that no part of Ekiti State will be abandoned to criminal elements.
That promise must now move rapidly from spoken words to visible structures, adequately equipped personnel and sustained security operations.
So, my brother, have you heard the latest news from Eda Oniyo?
Yes!
Are you still afraid?
No!
Why?
Because this time, it was not kidnappers who entered.
It was the soldiers!
Who sent them?
Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji!
And what are they coming to do?
To establish a military base, secure the border and protect the people!
Haaa!
They have entered Eda Oniyo again!
Ekiti ooooo!
Yes, they have entered—
But this time, it is great news!
My people, clear the road!
Let the drums roll!
Can’t you see me dancing?
