The Governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has inaugurated an 11-man Security Task Force, as a way of proffering solutions to the security challenges facing the state.
At the inauguration, held, on Monday, at the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Secretariat, Ibadan, the Governor explained that the Task Force was set up as a matter of emergency to ensure that the state was always on top of security situations in the state.
Prevent such kidnappings
Making reference to the recurring incidences of kidnappings, especially of school students in the North of the country, Governor Makinde said the state had to be on its toes security-wise to prevent such kidnappings and tackle all forms of criminality.
He noted that the committee would regularly link with traditional rulers, stakeholders across all local government areas, political stakeholders and different ethnic nationalities, to have requisite information on happenings across localities.
The Governor sought the cooperation and support of all and sundry across the state to enable the state government to have right security information on a prompt and regular basis.
According to Makinde, the imperativeness of the state government being on top of the security situation in the state would see the Task Force meet on a weekly basis, as he gives assurance of his administration’s commitment to ensuring that safety and security of lives.
While the Governor is to chair the Task Force and members of the team include: the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Bisi Ilaka; commissioners Bayo Lawal (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters), Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun (Information, Culture and Tourism), Adeniyi Farinto (Budget and Economic Planning) and Funmilayo Orisadeyi (Special Duties).
Others are Special Adviser on Security, CP Fatai Owoseni (rtd); Executive Assistant on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd); Director General, Operation Burst, Oladipo Ajibola; Oyo Amotekun Director General, Kunle Togun, with the Director of Special Services in the Office of the Head of Service, Olayinka Jimoh, to serve as secretary.
At the end of the inauguration, the Special Adviser on Security, CP Fatai Owoseni (rtd), who briefed newsmen alongside the Chief of Staff and the Commissioner for Information, disclosed that certain decisions were made during the meeting.
Owoseni noted: “Firstly, it is important to state that at no point do we want to, by action or omission, displace the activities of the security agencies in the state as they operate. We want to work in a way that is complementary to whatever it is they do. Secondly, we do intend to identify the various communities, contacts, and markets in our state in order that we can enumerate who is where and who we need to contact.”
He reiterated that Governor Makinde had stated the need for a meeting with all the traditional rulers in the state within the week, as all security matters without them would probably come to naught.
He highlighted the issue of voluntary policing, which he said could be used to bringing all other, or particularly, the non-state actors, to join hands in what is a complete and total architecture.
“The issue of our entry points and our state is being regarded as being a bit porous, we reckoned that there will be checkpoints at the major entry and exit points of the state, and that will be integrated into the state control room and general state security architecture,” Owoseni stated.
He revealed that the team intended to further regulate commercial motorcycle riders in the state by meeting with them, so as to know who they are and what they are doing from time to time.
Lateefah Ibrahim
