As part of strategic efforts to further strengthen security across Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde convened an expanded Security Council Meeting with stakeholders in the state.
The meeting held on Wednesday, March 20 at the House of Chiefs, State Secretariat, Ibadan.
The meeting brought together members of the state security Council, Local Government Chairmen, and traditional rulers to enhance collaboration and tackle security challenges in the state proactively.
The Special Adviser on Security Matters to the governor, retired Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, in his address while briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, emphasized the need for a collective approach to security matters.
He disclosed that the expanded security council deliberated on a cross section of issues bothering on activities of illegal miners, illegal migrants, herders/farmers clashes, and cultism among youths as well as how the traditional rulers will address situations in their various domains.
He noted that the decision to involve traditional rulers and non-state security actors has become crucial in its strategic plan in its broader security strategies.
He highlighted the successes recorded so far through the activities of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, while stressing the importance of strengthening partnerships with local vigilante groups and other community-based organizations to boost intelligence gathering and rapid response to security threats.
“Security is everyone’s business. Today’s meeting, which is at the instance of His Excellency, the executive governor was not in response to any serious issue or threat.
“It is a routine security Council meeting which usually holds twice a year to appraise security situation and make improvements where necessary.
“Our commitment to adopting a collaborative approach that integrates the efforts of both the mainstream security agencies and non state security actors for community-based structure was among the far reaching decision the council arrived at today,” Owoseni said.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Johnson Adenola, highlighted the importance of strategic collaboration on security matters. He noted that the security council meeting, which was his first since assumption of office in the state was insightful.
He added that the outcome of the meeting will also help the police enhance its strides on community-based policing while calling on illegal miners in the state to ensure they secure all necessary permits before operations or face the full wrath of the law.
While soliciting for public cooperation and support in the fight against crime, the police boss however, warned against stereotyping anybody on security matters on groundd of their religion or ethnicity stressing that crime is not peculiar to any tribe or religion. He also warned against resorting to self help noting that the law will take its full course on anyone found culpable of such acts.
Similarly, the Attorney General of Oyo state and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Abiodun Aikomo, in his brief remark, reiterated the commitment of the state government to strict enforcement of the rule of law.
He maintained that the state will continue to arrest and prosecute illegal miners in accordance with the provisions of the laws while calling for cooperation with the state government in its efforts to sanitize activities of miners in the state.
Also speaking, the Chairman of all the 33 Local government chairmen in the state, Hon. Sikiru Sanda, while commending such expanded security council meeting, noted that such meeting exists at the local government level across the state.
He assured that local government chairmen would incorporate the decisions reached at the meeting in their various council areas to enhance community based policing.
Traditional rulers and community leaders present at the meeting pledged their support, affirming their readiness to mobilize their communities to work hand-in-hand with security agencies.
At the end of the meeting, the council renewed commitment to strengthening intelligence-sharing frameworks and ensuring timely responses to security incidents. Stakeholders also expressed optimism that the deepened collaboration would yield positive results in enhancing peace and stability across the state.