By Adeyinka Adeniran
Following the rising spate of crime and criminalities in some parts of the state, the Oyo State government on Wednesday said it does not only have what it takes to prevent all acts of crimes and criminalities, it also have what it takes to respond effectively.
It warned those behind crimes in the state, particularly around the boundaries that the security operatives in the state as well as those of the adjourning states are not sleeping but rejigging their strategies for effectiveness.
The government also assures the people of the state that there’s no cause for alarm, noting that the service commanders in the State, are rejigging their strategy to improve, strengthen their collaborative efforts to ensure that there is a stop to all what is happening.
The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, CP Fatai Owoseni (rtd) gave the warning while briefing the Press shortly after a meeting with stakeholders which held behind closed doors.
Speaking, the retired Police Commissioner said reports from certain parts of the state, particularly Oyo and it’s environs, Ogbomosho, part of Ibarapa indicate a rising stem in crimes and criminalities despite the effort of the government.
He said a review of the current security architecture revealed a gap that needed to be filled, which was the active involvement of people at the grassroot, which necessitated the meeting.
He added that, the government saw the need to include the non state actors including vigilante groups, the Agbekoyas, the hunters, the OPCs, Soluderos among others to have a good synergy with the state actors in curbing crime and criminalities in the state.
He said the meeting had in attendance service commanders, local government chairmen, traditional leaders, community leaders from the four local government areas of Oyo Federal Constituency and top government functionaries.
Owoseni said, “It’s been observed from situation reports being received from the various security institutions in the state that there seems to be like a renewed insurgence of acts of crimes and criminalities especially around the Oyo and it’s environs.
“That’s Oyo township, Ogbomosho, part of Oke Ogun, Ibarapa and the outskirts of Ibadan. The head of the security agencies, the operational ones, the police, the DSS, the civil defense, the army, air force, Amotekun and Operation Burst. We held a meeting to look at what is it that we’re not doing right. Why are we having this? Is it that we have relaxed?
“The need for us to re-strategize so that we won’t rest on our oars and concluding that meeting yesterday, we found out that there is a need to engage our people. We have proven that our architecture should be changed to what we call integrated security concept whereby the non-state actors will have a handshake with the state actors.
“We were able to put up the non-state actors together, the vigilante, the Agbekoyas, the hunters, the OPCs, Soluderos. And we were doing this, we started it especially in Ibadan where the Mogajis also floated the compound security group that they are coordinating. So, after reviewing the situation, we found out that maybe we need to re-strategize and get our people more involved because that’s a major gap.
“Community involvement, involvement of the grassroots, it’s a major gap and that is why it seems as if, yes while things are happening, it seems as if sometimes they are overblown and if we don’t get the grassroots, members of the public involved, raise their awareness, security consciousness and the need for them to be an integral part of whatever architecture we’re doing, we wouldn’t be able to record any success.
“In Oyo axis, Ogbomosho, it’s now like almost on a regular basis that criminals will brazenly enter people’s houses and abduct them. So we mapped out our whole strategy and the gap, the major gap that is noted which is the need to get the grassroots, the people actively involved, is what we are addressing.
“We’ve planned strategy to also engage people in their different communities but today we had an opportunity to meet with stakeholders, the chairman of the local government in Oyo axis and the honorable members representing the houses in the National Assembly, the elders from Oyo, that include some traditional stakeholders.
“We had the opportunity of having an interaction with them today to let them know our strategy, the need for them to get actively involved in whatever the state actors are doing.
“And with this interaction and renewed commitment of the people at the grassroots, the renewed commitment of the chairman of the respective local governments in that area to now work collaboratively with the security agencies, the state actors and of course the need for them to also share intelligence with us.
“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 axis that we mentioned. We’ve geomapped the state, we know those areas and the areas that are not happening because we know that once you put fire on criminals in one area, they will move to another area.”
He revealed that the military last week carried out an operation to combat the Old Oyo Park, alleged to be the hideout of bandits, illegal miners and insurgents, assuring that the effort yielded positive result.
“Just last week, the military, in particular the Nigerian army, did an extensive combing of the whole Oyo Park. We have always done that on a regular basis, but with the information that we are having the Old Oyo Park being infiltrated by some criminal elements, especially the illegal miners who are moving from other parts of the country where they are putting fire on them to want to come and stay in Oyo.
“So the garrison did an extensive combing of the place, clearance operation in the old Oyo Park, up to a border with Kwara State. And we’re also exploring every possibilities to synergize with Kwara State just like we have been doing with Ogun State.”
He further spoke on a recent viral video where a woman raised alarm on crimes in Ogunmakin area.
Owoseni said although, Ogunmakin is not Oyo state territory, the state on receiving the video shared same with security operatives noting that, the states work in collaboration with others.
“The viral video that people started circulating yesterday about a woman in Ogunmakin, saying that some elements had infiltrated them. Yes, as much as Ogunmakin is in Ogun State. It’s not Oyo State, we share that information with the security operators in Ogun State yesterday.
“But we are not just leaving it to them because we share boundary. Oyo State and Ogun State share boundary in that area. We do it collaboratively well.
“But the message to these criminals is to let them know that the security people in Oyo State and the states adjoining Oyo State are not sleeping. Just like the Southwest governors have resolved that it has to be a joint effort.
“They should know that, we have what it takes to prevent all the acts of criminalities they are doing. And we also have what it takes to respond effectively.
“We have the support of His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde to provide whatever wherewithal that the security operatives will use.
“And I will seize this opportunity to tell our people that there’s no cause for alarm, to let them know that the service commanders in Oyo State, are rejigging their strategy to improve, strengthen their collaborative efforts to ensure that we are able to put a stop to all what is happening.
“Yes, while it is true that, except you don’t have people living in a community, you can’t have zero crime, but they would be able to put all their muscle together to stem the tide and make the people in Oyo State, the businesses in Oyo State, to thrive and for the people to be able to do, to go about their livelihood without let or hindrance.”
