Following allegations of the involvement of several Ebira boys In the last attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, the Ebira people resident in Ondo State have banned all traditional festivals in its communities across the state as a measure to fight insecurity.
A leader of one of the communities, Abiodun Umoru who spoke on behalf of the Ebiras from Kogi who are living in Ondo pledged the support of his people in liaising with the various security agencies in the fight against crime and insecurity ravaging the state.
Similarly, the communities urged the state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to establish the Amotekun posts in various Ebira-speaking communities across the state as well as employ their indigenes in the state security network agency to assist in the fight against the crime
Umoru decried the erroneous inclusion of Idris Ojo -An Ebira- who was a Kuje prison escapee as one of the masterminds of the Owo massacre on June 5, 2022, adding that the communities are also making necessary moves to rid their communities of criminal elements that tarnish their image.
“One of such steps was banning traditional festivals in Ebira communities in the state. Anybody who wanted to hide under traditional festivals to perpetrate evil in the state would be handed over to the security agents, he added.
“We can no longer fold our arms while some of our kinsmen will be acting against our cherished cultural norms and values.
“We have warned and educated our women who sell food items at strategic locations on the major roads of the dangers of hobnobbing with suspected criminals by volunteering information to them.
The communities appreciated the Governor Rotimi Akeredolu-led administration for its “tireless efforts at reducing the rate of criminality across the state as well as pledged not to relent in its commitment to continue to contribute its quota to the socio-economic and political development of the sunshine state.