Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has rolled out measures to address kidnapping, banditry and other crimes in the State.
The Governor said that the measures would ensure peaceful coexistence among residents in all parts of the State.
Makinde declared that the measures were being rolled out after a meeting held with representatives of Igangan, Ibarapaland, which was attended by security stakeholders, including the recently appointed Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko.
According to him, the authorities came up with a security strategy for the Ibarapa Zone to include the deployment of additional 200 operatives of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, to man hotspots of kidnapping/banditry, especially in the Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun zones.
“These operatives will launch missions to rid the forests of criminals. They will be presenting daily reports of the activities to the Governor in the short run and periodic reports in the long run,“ he said.
The Governor noted that his administration would also adopt continuous dialogue as one of the measures aimed at ending insecurity in the axes, by holding town hall meetings and community outreaches, bringing together residents and security agencies to talk about issues of immediate concern and how they can be resolved through dialogue and more effective community policing.
He stated that the government would soon proceed with the documentation of foreigners, especially those who are working in mines, as revealed in an earlier press conference, to ensure that only foreigners who have legitimate interests in Oyo State would remain within the territory.
Makinde affirmed that his government would continue to enforce existing laws, such as the Oyo State Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law, 2019, which would regulate the activities of herdsmen, as one of the measures to end criminality in the State.
“The authorities have directed the Amotekun Corps to continue collaborating with ‘Operation Burst’ and local vigilante groups in enforcing this law. You will recall that in the security meeting of South West governors and other stakeholders two days ago, it was agreed that open grazing be banned in the entire South West Zone,“ the Governor noted
Another measure contained in the security strategy, as made public by the Governor, is the decision to further collaborate with federal security agencies operating in the State, noting that the Oyo State Government would continue to support the police and other federal security agencies posted to the State in the discharge of their duties.
Makinde also indicated that his administration is aware of how some farmers have been killed and/or lost their livelihoods to criminal trespass and damage by pastoralists, adding that the State Executive Council is considering the possibility of compensation payments to families of victims or victims of such criminality who can prove their claims.
He declared that the State government had started the process of prosecuting all suspects arrested for criminal activities in the Ibarapa and the Oke-Ogun zones of the State, especially in connection with the ongoing tensions in the areas.
The Governor thanked residents of Oyo State who complied with the directive to remain peaceful and called on them to stay vigilant and always contact the security agencies empowered by the law to deal with security issues, restating his government’s resolute commitment to protecting the lives and properties of residents of the State.
PIAK
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