SECURITY: We’ll continue to provide safe and conducive environment— Makinde assures

The governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde on Wednesday, assured that the state government and the good people of Oyo state will continue to provide safe and conducive environment.

Makinde, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Abdul-raheem Adebayo Lawal, commended DSS for upholding professionalism while on duties, especially during the 2023 election in Oyo state, stating that his government is ever ready to cooperate with security agencies at all times.

He stated this while receiving the Southwest DSS directors led by its team leader, who is also the Lagos state Director, S.M Waziri (ADG), FSI, MDI who paid a courtesy call to the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

The deputy governor said: “Southwestern region is unique in several ways, if you understand, this is a region that’s so homogeneous in terms of culture, language, dressing and land mark contiguity. So, if we have challenge or challenges, to a very large extent, such challenges must be the same or about the same especially in terms of security challenges we confront now a-days and because of part of contiguity, whatever happen in Lagos state must happen in Ogun state and by extension, must happen in Oyo state and further extension in Osun state as well as Ekiti and Ondo state. It’s apposite.

“When we are addressing security challenges in Southwestern zone of the country, we must address them together so that we can put holistic approach to security issues in the southwestern zone of Nigeria.”

Lawal, who said it’s a noble idea that the director general state security service allowed zonal area of the country to come together and see how they can proffer solution to some of the challenges, noted that sooner or later, some of the challenges would be fully addressed.

According to him, some of the challenges we are currently facing were not there 15 to 20 years ago, such as kidnapping, and that the problem of separatist agitation is not unique to one part of Nigeria, but rather affects the entire nation.

He cites the example of some locals in the Moniya neighbourhood of Ibadan who recently moved into a radio station and declared their intention to make an announcement until security personnel apprehended them, noting that such an incident is not common in the southwest.

He asserts that the Oyo state government has been taking proactive measures to contain security challenges with the help of security personnel in the state, adding that farmers and headers issues as well as tribal and ethnicity challenges are also part of what the security agencies need to focus on.

However, on the issue of terrorism, the deputy governor stated that proactiveness and information sharing are key to containing the menace as he commended the security commanders in the state for providing safe and conducive environment.

Recalling that there was a security issue in the Ibarapa zone a few months ago and how it has persisted, he noted how beneficial the state government’s proactive approach and the cooperation of the security operatives have been in resolving the issue.

“As at the last meeting we held, some of the fundamental issues on security were discussed. In additional to security outfit, I think primarily source of intelligence gathering at state and national level are the directorates of state security.

“Quite often, when you roll out information bothering on insecurity, we tend to take such a provision so seriously because you are unbiased in putting information across the authorities. You will say it as it is, and for that reason, we will commend you once more.

“In Oyo state, we are ever ready to collaborate and cooperate with security people around as you’ve demonstrated in the time past especially during the last election by demonstrating professionalism in handling some of the problems that arose in the election such that it was conducted freely and fairly”.

Lawal emphasised that the issue of mining has been one of the challenges in the state, particularly in Oyo North, where he is from, and that Oyo state is the largest state in terms of landmarks.

He went on to say that the forest reserve is in Oyo North in which Chinese are in the place illegally as well as Togolese people among others. He argued that when such a population dominates an area, ugly incidents are inevitable and urged the security agencies to address the situation immediately.

“So, we are ever ready to give support to security agencies. In the Atmosphere of peace and security. We are very much ready and we urge you to also reach out to us in areas you would also want us to touch.

“Recently, along Lagos and ogun state, there’s a synergy even if criminals strike in Oyo state, we must have a means to apprehend culprits as well as putting in place security arrangement between Oyo and Ikire with Amotekun on ground to be able to apprehend any culprits which is the same thing as the DSS outfit.

“We must move ahead of criminals. We are resourceful and proactive and I know that if there would be any damage, it would be minimal in Oyo state.

“On behalf of governor Seyi Makinde, I must commend you for this conference and i need to assure you that Oyo state is everly ready to make cordial relationship with your agency for security of lives and properties.

“Security issue is key for good governance and administration and again, on behalf of his Excellency, thank you so much for the visit as I promise to relay your communique to His Excellency, Seyi Makinde.

Earlier in his remarks, the team leader, S.M Waziri (ADG), fsi, mni, hinted that they are in Ibadan to brainstorm on security challenges in the zone to provide safe and conducive environment.

He stressed that the meeting is basically to discuss about challenges and review projection for the next quarters and how to solve the issue of security challenges.

Waziri also disclosed that they are working to collaborate with other security outfit such as Amotekun to address the issue of security challenges and for the state government to see their resolution and how they can address it.

He added that their motive is to address kidnapping, terrorism, cultism, thuggery, arm robbery, labour issue, illegal mining among others.

Among government functionaries at the event include the Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni MNI; Chairman Civil Service Commission, Alhaji Kamorudeen Aderibigbe; Executive Assistant (Security), CP Odukoya Rtd, Executive Assistant Administration, Ogendengbe; Director General (Amotekun), Col. Olayinka, Rtd; Director Security Service Mr Ogungbile.