South West Governors Mull Joint Team To Tackle ISWAP Elements, Bandits

The South West Governors’ Forum yesterday hinted that they are considering the establishment of a joint surveillance monitoring team which will oversee and coordinate security efforts across the region to ostensibly deal with the threats posed by the reported influx of bandits and fighters from the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) into some of the region’s forests.

There had been reports before now that bandits fleeing military operations in the North-West were seeking refuge in the southwest region of the country.

The six South-West governors who met on Thursday at Lagos House, Ikeja, for a crucial zonal meeting to discuss the region’s growth and development also agreed to set up a Food Inflation Joint Monitoring Team to foster inter-state collaboration and mitigate food inflation.

The Forum’s meeting, which was hosted by its Chairman and Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was attended by Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Abiodun Oyebaniji (Ekiti), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).

The closed-door meeting, which started at 12:15 p.m. after all the governors arrived, focused on shared interests and key regional issues, including agriculture, food security, economic collaboration, security, and the South-West Development Commission.

Sanwo-Olu read the communique after the four hours meeting, saying, “After exhausting deliberation on key issues affecting the South West region and the country at large, the forum resolved as follows:

“The forum commended the President for the economic stability and improvement recorded across the nation, particularly in the sustained supply and distribution of petroleum products and the exchange rate stabilisation.

“The forum urges citizens to continue supporting the President’s efforts at strengthening the economy and improving the overall well-being of all Nigerians.

“The forum applauded the federal government for successfully implementing the student loan scheme under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund), benefiting South West students in tertiary institutions.

“Therefore, encourages all eligible students in the region to take full advantage of this initiative across all our high institutions, vocational training, and skilled action centres in the region.”

Dwelling on regional security, he added that “the forum commends the South West Governor for maintaining relative peace and security in the region, particularly during the very recent festive period. The forum, therefore, calls on all states to continue fostering peaceful coexistence amongst our citizens.’’

While acknowledging the threats posed by ISWAP activities in some parts of the South West, the forum strongly condemned any threats to the region’s security.

“Therefore, encourages the enhanced collaboration between the Nigerian police force and our various local security outfits while urging them to remain vigilant.”

While reiterating the commitment to taking necessary action to counter any threats in the region, “The forum agrees to appoint special advisors on security in each state and establish a joint surveillance monitoring team to oversee and coordinate security efforts across the region. And as part of the resolution, the forum has committed to deploying advanced technology, including area surveillance systems that will enhance security operations.’