By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukeu, ONDO
ONDO: In a determined effort to tackle the rising wave of insecurity in his constituency, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe, the federal lawmaker representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has disclosed that he personally engaged and equipped local vigilante groups to combat kidnapping and banditry in the area.
Adelegbe revealed that the gruesome killing of his younger brother, Bola Adelegbe, in 2023 by bandits who abducted him and collected ransom before taking his life, pushed him to take drastic action to secure his constituency. He provided the vigilantes with logistics and operational vehicles to strengthen their fight against criminal elements.
“You remember my brother was killed too. When we realized that nowhere was safe anymore and kidnappers were abducting people incessantly, I decided to engage the Vigilante Group to help us fight the crime,” Adelegbe said during a press briefing in Akure on Monday.
“I provided necessary logistics for them, including operational vehicles, so they could respond swiftly to crime scenes and patrol black spots in the community. Ever since they began operations, they have arrested some kidnappers, while others have fled from our communities.”
The lawmaker highlighted how the vigilance efforts have drastically reduced incidents of kidnapping, making the constituency safer for residents, particularly farmers who were previously targeted by criminal gangs.
Beyond security interventions, Adelegbe underscored his commitment to infrastructural development. He pointed to the completed construction of the Ute/Okeluse road, which he said would make it difficult for criminals to operate in the area. He also assured that work would soon begin on a 40-kilometer road linking over 14 communities between Owo and Ute, with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa pledging to lay asphalt once construction is completed.
In the education sector, Adelegbe listed several completed projects, including the construction of science laboratories at Emure Grammar School and Uso Grammar School, aimed at improving students’ performance in science subjects.
On economic empowerment, the lawmaker disclosed that he had distributed improved cocoa seedlings to farmers across the constituency to boost cocoa production, adding that farmers have been requesting additional seedlings for the new planting season. In addition, he said over 3,000 youths were provided with fingerlings, grants, and starter packs to encourage them to embrace agribusiness.
Looking ahead, Adelegbe announced plans to construct two 1,000-capacity stadia in Owo and Ifon to promote sports development in the region.
“My commitment to infrastructural development, poverty alleviation, skill acquisition, mega empowerment programmes, sports development, educational support through bursary awards, construction and renovation of schools, and financial aid to market traders is one that can be attested to by the good people of Owo and Ose,” he added.