Oyo govt intensifies Security Drive after Oriire breach, engages stakeholders across 8 LGAs
As part of efforts to prevent a recurrence of the security breach witnessed in Oriire Local Government Area, the Oyo State Government has intensified measures to strengthen intelligence gathering, enhance collaboration among security agencies, and promote community policing to ensure early warning and swift response to security threats across the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Homeland Security, Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration (Rtd.) Segun Adegoke, disclosed this during a series of security engagement meetings with stakeholders across the Oyo North, Oyo Central and Oyo South Senatorial Districts.
Determined to further strengthen the security architecture of Oyo State and prevent a recurrence of the security breach witnessed in Oriire Local Government Area, Governor Seyi Makinde directed the State Committee on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons and Illegal Immigrants to embark on a sensitization and stakeholders’ engagement tour across the state.
Led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Homeland Security, Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration (Rtd.) Segun Adegoke, the committee visited Surulere, Ogo-Oluwa, Oriire, Olorunsogo, Irepo, Kajola, Ibarapa Central and Ido Local Government Areas.
During the tour, the delegation held meetings with local government chairmen, traditional rulers, community leaders, farmers, Fulani leaders and other critical stakeholders to encourage intelligence sharing, promote peaceful coexistence and strengthen community resilience against criminal activities and violent extremism.
Addressing participants, ACG Adegoke rtd, urged residents to remain vigilant and security conscious, stressing the importance of lawful migration, proper documentation and close collaboration between community leaders and security agencies in identifying and addressing emerging security threats while respecting the rights and dignity of all residents.
He also called on citizens to know their neighbours, avoid spreading rumours and inflammatory messages, and promptly report suspicious movements to the appropriate security agencies.
During the interactive sessions, stakeholders expressed concerns over the influx of unprofiled and potentially dangerous migrants into parts of the state, urging the government to strictly enforce the Oyo State Anti-Open Grazing Law.
While commending Governor Seyi Makinde’s security initiatives, they appealed for the speedy integration of local hunters and vigilante groups into the state’s formal security architecture.
They also recommended increased funding for security operations, comprehensive profiling of migrants, regular combing of forest reserves and the establishment of military bases in communities bordering forests to strengthen surveillance and response capabilities.
In separate remarks, the Chairmen of Surulere, Isaiah Adegbite; Ogo-Oluwa, Oluwaseun Adesoye; Oriire, Olateju Alabi; Olorunsogo, Qozeem Olayanju; Irepo, Taoheed Olayiwola; Kajola, Mustapha Olawale; Ibarapa Central, Olusola Adeleke; and Ido, Sheriff Adeojo, urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting the government and security agencies through timely and credible information.
Representatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Department of State Services and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency also underscored the importance of sustained intelligence sharing and inter-agency collaboration in tackling insecurity across Oyo State.
They further encouraged residents to make use of the state’s toll-free emergency number, 615, to report security threats and suspicious activities for prompt response.
As part of the tour, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the palace of Iba of Kishi Oba (Dr.) Mas’ud Oyekola Arowoduye II, as a mark of respect for the traditional institution.