Enimere Àkànbí
Ọ̀yọ́ State Government has vowed to go hard on crimes and criminalities in the state, as it emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts between security agencies, local security outfits and grassroots communities to combat growing security threat in some parts of the pacesetter state.
Special Assistant to Governor Ṣèyí Mákindè on security, CP Fatai Owóṣéní (Retired) stated this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of a stakeholders meeting held at the secretariat.
CP Owóṣéní, who attributed the meeting to reports of renewed security threat in Ọ̀yọ́ township, Ògbòmọ́ṣọ̀, Ìbàràpá, Okè-ògùn and outskirts of Ìbàdàn, said the committee reviewed and rejigged strategies towards strengthening the security measures.
He added that part of the resolutions of the meeting was to integrate the community leaders and actively involve members of the grassroots in the security architecture of the state with a view to renewing the commitment to collaborate with the government.
The former CP expressed optimism that collaborative efforts between security agencies, local securities leaders at the grassroots would stem down criminal acts.
CP Owóṣéní, who commended Nigerian Army for recent extensive combing and clearance operations of Old Ọ̀yọ́ park, revealed that the state is synergizing with neighboring states to prevent creeping of criminals
He commended the security architecture put in place by Governor ‘Ṣèyí Mákindè, noting that the priority given to security matters is helping in the expansion of the state’s economy and the thriving of businesses in the state.
While assuring people of adequate security of live and properties, CP Owóṣéní, urged them to judiciously make use of prompt security response toll free line 615, when necessary.
He said: “Just like we have always said, when it comes to the issue of security, you periodically review your strategy. Of late, it has been observed from situation reports received from security institutions across Ọ̀yọ́ State that there seems to be a renewed resurgence of crime and criminalities.
“We have always prided ourselves as one of the safest states in the country with the collaborative efforts of the security agencies and the wherewithal that the governor of the state has been giving them.
“In the course of reviewing the security situation, we discovered that we have renewed attacks around Ọ̀yọ́ Township, Ògbòmọ́ṣọ̀, parts of Okè-ògùn and Ìbàràpá as well as at the outskirts of Ìbàdàn.
“Heads of security agencies held a meeting yesterday to look at what we are not doing right and the need for us to restrategise so that we won’t rest on our oars.
“Concluding the meeting, we found out that there is a need to engage our people — society approach. We started it in Ọ̀yọ́ State when the governor approved that our security architecture should be changed to what we call integrated security concept where the non-state actors will have a handshake with the state actors.
“We were able to put up the non-state actors together — the vigilance groups, Àgbékọ̀yà, hunters, OPC members and Sọ̀lúdẹ̀rọ̀. We started it in Ìbàdàn, where the Mọ́gàjìs also floated a compound security group that the Mọ́gàjìs are coordinating. After reviewing the situation, we found out that we need to re-strategise and get our people to be more involved. That’s a major gap — community involvement.
“Today, we had an opportunity to meet with stakeholders — Chairmen of the local government in Ọ̀yọ́ axis and the Honourable members representing the axis in the House of Assembly; the elders from Ọ̀yọ́ including some traditional stakeholders.
“We interacted with them today to let them know our strategy and the need for them to get actively involved in whatever the state actors are doing. We made them know there is a need for them to share intelligence with us and we believe that, moving on, we should be able to stem this embarrassing tide of crimes and criminalities that are raising their ugly head in the axes we have mentioned.
“We have geo-mapped the state and we know those areas where those things are happening and are not happening because we know that once you put fire on criminals in one area, they move to another area.
“Just last week, the military did an extensive combing of the Old Ọ̀yọ́ Park. We have always done that on a regular basis but, with the information that we are having that part of the Park was being infiltrated by some criminal elements, especially illegal miners, the Garrison Commander did combing and clearance operations of the Old Park, up to our border with Kwara State.
“We are also exploring every possibility of synergy with Kwara State, just like we have been doing with Ọ̀gùn State. This will take me to the viral video, which people circulated yesterday.
“Some people in Ògùnmákin said that some elements have infiltrated them. Yes, in as much as Ògùnmákin is in Ọ̀gùn State and not Ọ̀yọ́ State, we shared the information with the security apparatus in Ọ̀gùn State yesterday, but we are not just leaving it to them, because we share boundaries.
“We want the people to know that we have what it takes to prevent all acts of criminalities. And we also have what it takes to respond effectively.
“I want to use this opportunity to tell our people that there is no cause for alarm. The Service Commanders in Ọ̀yọ́ State are rejigging their strategy to strengthen their collaborative efforts to ensure that we are able to put a stop to all that is happening”
Owóṣéní, who clarified that the meeting of security stakeholders and the community and political leaders in Ọ̀yọ́ had nothing to do with the forthcoming coronation of the Aláàfin of Ọ̀yọ́, said the meeting was only a part of the strategic decision taken at a meeting of the service commanders of the operational arms of the security.
The meeting had in attendance service commanders, local government chairmen, traditional leaders, community leaders from the four local government areas of Ọ̀yọ́ Federal Constituency and top government functionaries.
Àánúolúwapọ̀ Fásọyìn
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