Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has blamed the Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, for the increasing wave of kidnapping in the state.

Falana, who was reacting to Fayose’s ‘Save Our Soul’ message to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, said in a statement on Sunday that the governor must desist from providing official cover for armed gangs to curb kidnapping cases in the state.

He cited the example that the armed thugs had, in connivance with state government, occupied and shut the House of Assembly since November 2014.

The lawyer argued that armed thugs had been given immunity by the impunity in the state.

The statement read in part, “Last week, Mr. Ayo Fayose, the governor of Ekiti state was reported to have sent SOS to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, over the increasing wave of kidnapping sweeping across the state.

“In urging the police chief to attend promptly to the concern expressed by the governor, I am compelled to point out that the state government has itself to blame for deliberately providing official cover for armed gangs and other criminally minded individuals who have taken over the monopoly of violence in Ekiti state. For instance, the House of Assembly complex has been occupied by armed lumpen elements since November last year with the connivance of the state government.

“In the atmosphere of impunity which currently obtains in the country, the well known armed thugs operating in Ekiti state have been granted immunity by the federal government. Hence, police officers are under strict instructions not to arrest or prosecute any of them.”

According to Falana, the maintaining law and order in the state is compounded by the ongoing industrial action by industrial workers.

He advised the governor to emulated governors of other states who had successfully persuaded the judiciary workers to resume work.

He said, “Finally, the Governor should emulate his colleagues in a number of states who have succeeded in persuading judicial workers to call off their strike.

“A state where judges are beaten up by thugs and courts are locked up indefinitely cannot genuinely guarantee law and order.”

Falana also recalled that  a Commissioner of Police who was determined to rid the state of kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes was queried and investigated by the Police Service Commission.

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