Stakeholders Strategise On How To Tackle Insecurity In South West

Security Stakeholders across the South West geopolitical zone, particularly those in the Yewa-Awori land of Ogun West Senatorial District, on Monday converged in Ogun State to strategise on tackling insecurity in the region.

They also called on the federal government, as well as the Ogun State government, to evolve an effective plan that will strengthen local security organisations so as to enable the region to overcome challenges posed by the bandits and other radical religious extremists.

With particular emphasis on enhancing security at border communities hosting the neighbouring Republic of Benin at the Ogun West and Oyo West Senatorial districts, the stakeholders appealed to the three tiers of governments to upgrade the status of all the grassroots security groups in such a way that will make them capable enough to deal with any challenge before such constitutes an international embarrassment to Nigeria.

Leadership of the security groups, which included that of the Oodua People’s Congress Reformed (OPC-R), the Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC), as well as traditional institutions in Ogun State, made the call on Monday while delivering their goodwill Messages at the 8th edition of the Oodua Day Security Summit, organised by the OPC, held at Imeko town in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Speaking at the event, themed: “Strategies For Enhancing Community Safety and Addressing Insecurity  In South West Nigeria: A Multi-Stakeholders’ Approach”, National President of OPC (R), Ambassador  Oludare Adesope appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as all political office holders at all levels not to distance themselves, but be boldly identified with all the local security organisations towards ensuring that the entire South West zone does not fall into captivity.

Adesope, who was represented by the Deputy President of the organisation, Comrade Taofeek Adeyemi, said OPC (R) was ever ready to protect their communities and willingly confront any security challenges that would pose a threat to the peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians living and doing legitimate businesses in the area head-on whenever such arises anywhere in the zone.

Earlier in an interview, OPC-R governor in Ogun State, Comrade Yusuf Olaegbe, urged the federal government and the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration in Ogun State to redirect efforts towards scrutinising every activity ongoing among the village heads so as to ensure that none of them jeopardises security efforts being put in place by governments, traditional rulers and other security stakeholders in the rural areas.

Disclosing that strong cooperation existed among the local security organisations such as the OPC-R, the Hunters’ groups and Vigilante, Olaegbe said all security stakeholders in Imeko town were ready to storm the Imeko Forest Reserves to expose and evict whichever bandit group that may be hibernating in that forest due to the solid cooperation that exists between them and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) rather than waiting for any foreign assistance.

In his goodwill message at the summit, the Ogun State Vice Chairman of the PCRC, Alhaji Abdullahi Babatunde Lawal, said the time was ripe for the government to consider the effectiveness of local security organisations in efforts to overcome the insecurity challenges posed by the activities of bandits and other religious extremists in Nigeria.

Lawal, however, disclosed that the PCRC would not hesitate to assist governments and local security organisations in the efforts to make the entire South West safe and secure through the Nigeria Police, which is statutorily recognised to prosecute criminals.