Oyebanji visits rescued Ekiti kidnap victims, pledges free treatment
By Boye Oyeyemi
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Sunday visited victims of the recent abduction in Eda Oniyo who are receiving treatment at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, assuring them that the state government would pay all their medical bills.
Speaking with journalists after the visit, the governor thanked President Bola Tinubu, security agencies, the Eda Oniyo Community Development Association, the Christian Association of Nigeria and other individuals and groups whose efforts contributed to the victims’ release.
“We are grateful to the president for his support and I commend the security agencies for their commitment. I also appreciate the Eda Oniyo Community Development Association, the Christian Association of Nigeria and everyone who played a role in ensuring the safe return of our people,” Oyebanji said.
The governor said his visit was to assess the condition of the victims and ensure they were receiving adequate care, adding that the state government would take full responsibility for their treatment expenses.
He, however, warned against politicising security challenges, describing such actions as unhelpful and insensitive. According to him, the safety and welfare of residents should remain a shared responsibility rather than a partisan issue.
“It is unfortunate that some people attempted to make political gains from the incident. Matters of security should unite us because the protection of lives and property concerns everyone,” he said.
Oyebanji expressed satisfaction with the recovery of the victims, noting that the child who was initially unconscious had regained consciousness and that all those rescued were responding positively to treatment.
The governor also commended the management and medical personnel of the teaching hospital for their prompt response and professionalism, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to supporting security agencies in tackling crime across the state.
