The Ikere-Ekiti community in Ekiti State has imposed a security levy of N2,000 yearly on every adult working and living in the town to complement the efforts of government and security agencies in  preventing bank robberies and other crimes.
 
Ikere-Ekiti has witnessed a series of fatal bank robberies, including a tragic armed robbery in broad daylight in December 2023 that claimed two lives and forced all banks to close shops.
  
Speaking at the 10th Odun Oba celebration, the monarch of Ikere community and Chairman of the Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Adejimi Adu, revealed that, until recently, the community, the largest after the state capital, had to do banking transactions in Ado-Ekiti.
 
“There is a lot before us as a community, especially in terms of security. We decided to help ourselves to support the efforts of the government and security agencies. As a result, it was decided that every adult, except students, working and living in Ikere, will pay N2,000 yearly to prevent the recurrence of the unfortunate bank robbery in Ikere. I am pleased that the banks are now resuming operation in Ikere.
 
“This is to appeal to our people, as well as well-meaning Nigerians and friends of Ikere, to join in making this work. We cannot afford to sit idly by while criminals disrupt the peace and progress of the town. We have hopes for significant business development in the near future,” the monarch stated.
 
He also appealed to the state government to address the only government hospital in the community, the Specialist Hospital in Ikere, which appears to have been neglected by the State Ministry of Health.
 
“In this regard, I thank all our Ikere sons, including Wole Olanipekun, Şola Adewumi, Feyi Ogoji, Igbekele Ayodele and Harrison Alonge, who have answered our call to help with the infrastructural expansion and refurbishment of the hospital,” he said.
 
Additionally, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Wole Olanipekun, commended the monarch for significant progress made during his 10-year reign over Ikere community.
 
The senior lawyer stated: “Kabiyesi, Oba Adejimi Adu Kingdom, on the auspicious and epoch-making occasion of his 10th Coronation Anniversary, Ikere has witnessed monumental progress across all facets of life.
 
“Your Majesty single-handedly rebuilt the ancient palace of Ikere and transformed it into a modern architectural masterpiece; now housing, among other things, the main palace building, two administrative blocks, guest houses, a conference hall, a chapel and a Hall of Fame (museum), while the sacred monuments within the palace have also been painstakingly rehabilitated and preserved.”
 
Highlight of the event was the conferment of honorary chieftaincy titles on retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Abiodun Alabi; former Chairman of the Governing Council of the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Chief Afolabi Ojuawo, among others.