The Ogun State Government, in South-West Nigeria, has announced a series of proactive measures aimed at strengthening security and safeguarding peace across the state.
Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed the measures in Iperu after a strategic meeting with security chiefs to review the state’s security landscape and identify further actions to protect lives, property, and economic investments.
The meeting, which lasted over two hours, had in attendance the Commander of the 35th Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Brigadier General Godwin Nwamba; the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo; representatives of the Department of State Services; and the Ogun State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Remi Ekundayo, among others.
The measures announced by the government include the registration of foreign nationals and non-indigenes, intensified forest patrols, demolition of criminal hideouts, and enhanced border security.
Governor Abiodun explained that Ogun’s status as an industrial capital attracts people from different parts of the world, making proper documentation essential for safety and accountability. He noted that some workers in companies across the state were not documented, prompting the government to mandate the registration of all foreign nationals and new residents. The exercise will be carried out in partnership with security agencies, including the police and the Immigration Service, to ensure that those living in the state are here legally and are known to the authorities.
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He added, “While Ogun has enjoyed decades of peaceful coexistence with non-indigenes, there are occasions when certain individuals attempt to infiltrate communities by posing as legitimate residents. Proper identification will support our security agencies in detecting suspicious persons and preventing unlawful activities.”
The governor also vowed to clamp down on illegal miners and criminal groups using forest reserves as hideouts, reaffirming that the state would not allow any bandit or criminal to occupy its territory. He said all security formations are working together and will continue their operations until criminal elements are completely flushed out of the forests.
Governor Abiodun appealed to residents to support the government’s security efforts by remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activities promptly to security agencies, traditional rulers, and community leaders. He emphasised that security is a shared responsibility that keeps the state safe and requires collective participation.
He also called for the establishment of a Forward Operating Base around Ilara, a key border community in the Yewa North Local Government Area, to strengthen the protection of border settlements.