Indigenes and residents of Iresa-Adu in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State have raised the alarm over security breaches in the town following the arrest of two suspected cow rustlers.
The Oyo Police Command confirmed the arrest of Abu Muhammed and Aliu Bello in a statement
by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayin.
“The Oyo State Police Command wishes to inform the public that two suspected cattle rustlers, Abu Muhammed and Aliu Bello, have been apprehended following a swift response to a report received at Iresadu Division.
“During the operation, twenty-six stolen cows, estimated at ₦6,250,000, were successfully recovered, reflecting the tangible results of coordinated police and community efforts in protecting property and livelihoods,” the statement reads.
Residents of Iresa-Adu attributed the weak security architecture in the town to absence of a First Class monarch for almost nine years.
Iresa-Adu shares borders with Kwara and Osun States. Kwara, which has come under banditry and kidnap attacks, shares border with the town.
The Aresa of Iresa-Adu is a foremost monarch in Yoruba history and literature. But the Aresa of Iresa-Adu throne has been vacant for almost nine years, making it difficult for the many towns and villages in that section of Oyo State to work together in battling the common security challenges.
The Oyo Police Command said the arrest of the suspected cattle rustlers arrests was made possible through cooperation with local community security structures, which helped track the suspects as they attempted to evade detection.
Aganya is a village very close to Iresa-Adu central township, which is just 15 minutes away from Ogbomoso township.
The reminder of the exposure of the town & its surrounding to criminal elements has made residents of the town renew their outcry towards the Oyo State Government to help resolve the Aresa-Adu of Iresa-Adu throne.
It is widely speculated in the town that the Aresa-Adu has the power to bring together all border towns and villages under it to work together with the Oyo government and the Nigerian Police to forestall importation of criminal elements into Oyo State.