…set to take proactive measures
Stakeholders in Oyo State have taken proactive measures against insecurity in the state and its environ, calling for collective efforts in tackling security challenges in the state.
They said the step became necessary following rising insecurity in some part of the country which is gradually escalating to the Southwest region.
The stakeholders include the representative of Oyo state Commissioner of Police, CSP Omowole Sunday, a senior officer of Operation Burst Outfits, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Mogajis of Ibadanland led by Chief Asimiyu Adepoju Ariori, Baales of Ibadanland led Baales F.D Ige, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Oyo State, Oluode of Ibadanland, Chief Kehinde Edge and all of other Oluodes of Oyo state, Araba Awo of Ibadanland, His Eminence Araba Odegbola leading all traditionalists in the State, Chief Imam of Ibadanland and Grand Imam of Oyo state, His Eminence, Shiek AbdGaniy Abubakri Agbotomokekere leading all the Zonal Chief Imams and Alfas in Oyo state, local security Volunteers like the Agbekoya, Odua People’s Congress (OPC), among others.
The Program was organised by the Ibadan Compounds Peace Initiatives, coordinated by Mogaji Asiwaju Nurudeen Akinade Ph.D
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting held in Ibadan, CCII President General, Barr. Ajeniyi Ajewole who equally doubles as the Chairman of the initiatives represented by the Social Director Alhaja Folasade urged people to always speak out whenever they see some strange faces before it gets out of hand. other speakers at the meeting including the former Chairman Ibadan Cultural Festival Planning, Balogun Gaphar Ojetola huge the people to be more proactive in security dealings.
In his remark, the President of Ibadan Mogajis, Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori, who said prevention is better than cure, urged people to join hands with security agencies in tackling insecurity.
He lauded the effort of ICPI towards ensuring security of life and properties of residents of the state.
Earlier in his address, the ICPI Coordinator, Mogaji Dr. Nurudeen Akinade said the gathering was able to bring together all sectors
He said, “When it comes to security, it’s local.That’s why we assembled the local team here. You can see them. The state government has been organizing their own meeting.
“You can see the governor of the six states in the southwest having their meeting.But security is local. So we are talking about bringing all the local people together.
“The market men and women, you can see the leadership. The religious men, both Muslim, Christian and traditionalists.The volunteers, that is the militias, they are here from all the local communities of Oyo State.
“The Chief imam of Ibadanland is here. The Chief imam from other zones of Oyo State are also here, so that we can discuss how we address this issue.We are not being elitist. We are being local. And that’s exactly what I am.
“Our major advice is if you see something, say something. And that is our life.If you see something, say something. The security cannot cover everybody.
“So if you don’t have information, there are practically nothing you can do.If you see a strange face, you keep quiet, you are creating problems. So when you see something, you are able to alert us. Then we know the next step to take.”
Also, former CCII President-General, Yemi Soladoye, who was the Chairman of the event said security is a collective responsibility of everybody, noting that government alone can not solve it.
The representative of Iyalode in council of Ibadanland, the Agbaakin Iyalode of Ibadanland Alhaja Olanrewaju Otiti appreciate the organisers and urge other stakeholders from other part of Oyo state not to leave the whole logistics for Ibadan alone
He charged all stakeholders to wake up from their duty so as to get out insecurity in Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.
The Babaloja General of Oyo State, Alhaji Yekini Abass said Ibadan people should not wait till the bandit ravage the city, saying collective effort became necessary so as to foreatal the occurrence.
Those who spoke on behalf of Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun, Oyo, Ogbomosho Ibadan Lesser City and Ibadan main City showed their readiness to collaborate with government, security agencies and other stakeholders to prevent banditry, kidnapping and other forms of crimes and criminalities in the state.
