As part of efforts to bolster regional security and strengthen inter-agency collaboration, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 11, AIG Emuobo Fred Ekokotu, on Wednesday embarked on a duty tour to Oyo State.
The AIG was received on Wednesday, June 18 by the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Johnson Oluwole Adenola, and other top security stakeholders at the state Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan.
In his address, AIG Ekokotu reaffirmed the Police Force’s commitment to consolidating peace across Oyo and Osun States and emphasized the need for sustained cooperation among security agencies, traditional institutions, and community leaders.
Fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the stakeholders meeting,the AIG said, “As I said earlier in the Hall, for sometime now there has been problem between Lagelu LG in Oyo state and Iwo in Osun state. On Monday and Tuesday, I had an extensive meeting with the deputy governors of both states, the director general of national boundary commission, and other stakeholders in my office, we ended the meeting yesterday.
“My coming here is just to reassure the people of their safety and also assure them that the IGP is on top of the situation and that we should go about with our lawful duties. Oyo state is calm and will continue to be calm. I also come to here to commend the good work the Oyo state Commissioner of Police is doing.
“We’ve been hearing all what he has been doing and I said let me come share in the joy of his success and also to intimate the Olubadan of the steps being taken on the issue of Ibadan and Iwo border dispute, and also appeal to him to talk to his subjects to allow peace to reign because nothing can be done in the absence of peace.
“You know I’ve been here for many years so, I said let me also come back home and see my people because this is my home. Also, being a new AIG and based in Osogbo, I said let me come and appreciate all the stakeholders including the press, for their support because the pen is very powerful because the job of policing can not be done by police alone.
“Speaking on manpower shortage in the police amid security challenges in the country, the AIG said: the President of Nigeria, Senator Bola Tinubu has graciously approved the recruitment of police personnel twice or three times a year which is ongoing already. As I speak with you now there are new recruit being trained at various police training colleges and schools, and they pass out, it will bolster the strength of the State Command. So, if we recruit certain number from a state, they’re posted back to that state, if we recruit 100 from Oyo that number will be posted back to Oyo after passing out.”
Earlier in his welcome address, CP Adenola praised AIG Ekokotu for his proactive leadership and deep commitment to reinforcing policing efforts across Oyo and Osun States, which fall under the AIG’s jurisdiction.
He described Oyo State as one of Nigeria’s most complex and populous states, with over 8.54 million residents spread across 33 local government areas and 29 local council development areas, adding that the state’s sheer size and diversity demand innovative and dynamic policing strategies.
While acknowledging the generally peaceful atmosphere across the state, Adenola disclosed that the Command has had to contend with a host of security challenges, including armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, land disputes, and periodic farmer-herder clashes.
He noted that his leadership has prioritized reforms in line with the Inspector-General of Police’s vision, including launching an eight-point action plan focused on community engagement, inter-agency cooperation, strict enforcement, capacity building, and tech-driven crime fighting.
“Under my leadership, we have made significant strides in community engagement and crime control. These achievements would not have been possible without the unwavering support of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, whose investments in security logistics have greatly enhanced our efficiency,” he said.
However, CP Adenola highlighted a critical manpower deficit plaguing the Command. With only 8,342 officers currently deployed across the state, the police-to-citizen ratio stands at 1:1,023, a far cry from the United Nations-recommended ratio of 1:450.
“This inadequate strength hampers our ability to respond swiftly and decisively to threats. We respectfully appeal to the AIG to assist in deploying additional officers to Oyo State. We also request that transfers out of the Command be minimized, and when inevitable, replacements should be immediate to avoid operational lapses,” he added.
The CP also commended the contributions of other security stakeholders such as the Amotekun Corps, and praised the press and the people of Oyo for supporting initiatives like the “See Something, Say Something” campaign, which he described as pivotal in crime prevention and intelligence gathering.
Significantly, CP Adenola lauded AIG Ekokotu’s recent peacebuilding efforts in resolving the lingering boundary conflict between Lagelu Local Government Area (Oyo State) and Iwo Local Government Area (Osun State).
“The peace achieved in the area is a milestone in regional conflict resolution. Your efforts in managing these inter-community tensions are deeply appreciated,” Adenola said, expressing confidence that the AIG’s continued guidance would further strengthen the region’s security architecture.”
President General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) which is the umbrella body of all sociocultural groups and association in Ibadan land, Barrister Niyi Ajewole and other stakeholders lauded the state Police under CP Adenola and AIG Ekokotu in charge of zone 11 for the peace and tranquility in the state and reaffirmed their unwavering support for the security agency.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of gifts to the AIG by both Barrister Ajewole on behalf of the Olubadan and CP Adenola on behalf of the Oyo state police command.
The event was attended by senior police officers, representatives from the Nigerian Army, NSCDC, Amotekun, DSS, OYRTMA, PCRC leadership, traditional rulers comprising Ibadan Mogajis (family compound heads) Oyo state chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Arewa Community in Ibadan, community leaders, and members of the media.