- Govts strengthen grassroots intelligence, reinvigorate Amotekun
Governments of the six Southwest states are taking precautionary steps to safeguard security of lives and property.
At the weekend, the state governments reassured residents of their safety in their respective domains.
The assurance followed last week’s alarm by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde that bandits linked to the Independent State of West Africa (IWSAP) fleeing military onslaught in the Northwest were heading to the Southwest for refuge.
Some government officials and security agencies told The Nation that the governments have placed measures to ensure that the zone does not become a haven for any group of bandits and terrorists.
Some of the measures listed by the officials and security chiefs include enhanced intelligence gathering, patrol of forests and highways as well as dialogue with community leaders.
Shortly after Makinde raised the alarm, the Nigerian Immigration Service(NIS) announced the arrest of 100 foreigners suspected to be ISWAP members in Osun State.
The Information and Public Enlightenment Commissioner, Kolapo Alimi, said the suspected ISWAP members had no valid travel documents.
Alimi said: “100 foreigners were arrested weeks ago before the arrest of suspected members of ISWAP in Ilesa.’’
He advised residents not to panic because the government was ‘’on top of the security situation in the state.’’
A top security source told The Nation that the state government ‘’provided Immigration Service with buses to convey’’ the suspects to a base for interrogation.
He added that the state wing of the Southwest security outfit, Amotekun, was being rejigged for efficiency in combating crime in the state.
His words: “Following the alarm by (Governor Makinde), we are leaving no stone unturned on security matters. Osun State remains the safest state in Nigeria.
‘’We are already rejigging the Amotekun security outfit to be more effective.”
‘No room for banditry in Oyo’
In Oyo State, Commissioner for Information and Orientation Dotun Oyelade said covet operations have started at both the Old National Park in Oyo town and other identified areas allegedly infiltrated by suspected bandits and other criminally-minded individuals.
Oyelade also said that joint operations by security agencies in the state were underway.
Oyelade said: “Intelligence and covert operations are very active in many locations across the state as I speak to you, both at the National Park and other identified areas.
“Plans for joint operations of all security agencies are well underway.
“However, for security reasons, we will not be able to go into the details, scope, and time frame of these operations, but you will see them unfold sooner than you probably anticipate.”
The Commandant of the state Security Network and Amotekun Corps, Olayinka Olayanju, said the agency has increased surveillance by enhancing monitoring of border areas and vulnerable points through joint operations with the police, military, and vigilance groups.
Olayanju added that community engagement initiatives have been established to foster collaboration between law enforcement agencies and local communities.
He said: “We have increased surveillance by enhancing monitoring of border areas and vulnerable points through joint operations involving the police, military, and local vigilante groups.
“Community engagement initiatives have been established to foster collaboration between law enforcement and local communities, encouraging the gathering of intelligence and promoting the reporting of suspicious activities.
“Intelligence sharing among security agencies has been prioritised to ensure a coordinated response to bandit activities.
“Additionally, we have strengthened law enforcement by deploying more personnel and resources to areas identified as hotspots for banditry.
“Public awareness campaigns are underway to educate the public on safety measures and to encourage community vigilance to deter bandit activity.
“Furthermore, we are advocating stronger laws and policies that address the root causes of banditry and provide law enforcement with more robust tools to combat it.
“Collaboration with neighbouring states is also being pursued to create a unified front against banditry and improve security along state borders.
“All these steps are aimed to restore peace and safety in Oyo State while addressing the underlying issues contributing to the rise of banditry.”
Ondo reinvigorates Amotekun
In Ondo , the government said it has strengthened grassroot intelligence and placed all Amotekun Ambassadors and Amot Rangers on the alert to clamp down on any suspicious activities across the state.
Commander of Amotekun Corps Adetunji Adeleye explained that highsecurity alert was to uncover any plot by any terror group to set up cells in any part of the state.
“We have informed Amotekun Ambassadors and engaged Amot rangers. They are to uncover any of evil plot or terrorists’ cells in the state. There is no hiding place for them in Ondo. Our grassroots intelligence is massive and strengthened,” Adeleye said.
Ogundana: Ekiti is no-go-area for insurgents
A special security surveillance has also been put in place in Ekiti State by the government.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, said that a holistic review of security strategies had also been carried out by the government to check any potential threat to life and property in the state.
Ogundana added that personnel of the Amotekun Corps, Agro-Rangers, local hunters, anti-grazing, and the vigilance groups have been deployed in some key forests to complement efforts of the Police and Army in making the state crime-free.
The special adviser declared the state a ‘’no-go area’’ for insurgents.
He said: “We’ve put all necessary arrangements in place to prevent all those bandits fleeing the Northwest and Northcentral from relocating to Ekiti.
‘’We have identified some places they are likely to relocate to and all necessary measures have been rolled out to contain them.
“On the dialogue side, we have met the leaders of the Fulani community and told them to let us know when all these foreign people are moving to their environment.
“ We’ve activated a series of security arrangements. The kind of arrangements we put in place since October last year, we are supposed to have relaxed it,but when we got the information that bandits are relocating to the Southwest, we had to review it to make sure there is frequent bush combing and 24-hour patrol of our highways and some identified areas.
“Ekiti is ready for any eventuality. Our security agencies are well supported and they have been doing their best. I believe that with what we have on the ground, any security threat coming to Ekiti will not succeed.”
No Boko Haram in Lagos, says CP
In Lagos, Commissioner of Police (CP) Olarenwaju Ishola dismissed the alleged presence of Boko Haram sleeper cells in the state.
Ishola, who assured Lagosians of their safety, revealed that the command recently met with the Arewa community for collaboration in securing the state
The Nation observed that security has been beefed up in public institutions in the state. Banners with pictures and names of fleeing terror chiefs have also been placed at the entrances of most military/security barracks in the state.
The use of body scanners and physical screening of bags have also resumed at most military bases. Visitors now present valid means of identification before being allowed access.
Ogun govt: let’s be vigilant
Security Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Security Sola Subair said all intelligence mechanisms security agencies have been reinvigorated to ward off any eventuality.
“We got the information and we are working on our intelligence. We have activated all our intelligence mechanisms and all the agencies are collaborating to share information and intelligence so that if there is anything there we will quickly nip it in the bud,” Subair explained.
Also, the state police command said it was not folding its hand concerning the development.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has placed all necessary security measures to strengthen existing security to forestall any potential attacks,” the spokesman for the command, Omolola Odutola, said.
The government said that it had set mechanisms in motion to tackle insecurity.
Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media and Strategy Kayode Akinmade said the government was in firm control of its security architecture.
Akinmade, in a statement, said: ‘’The recent reported influx of bandits from the North into the Southwest coincided with the recent security meeting of the heads of security agencies in Ogun State. After a careful review of the state of security in the state, the agencies resolved to redouble their efforts to sustain the unprecedented peace and tranquility the state has been enjoying in the past few months, especially during the recently concluded Christmas and new year celebrations, leaving no room for destabilising infiltration of bandits from any part of the country.
“Our security agencies have therefore, revitalized their winning formula and strategies, including visible presence in every nook and cranny of the state, patrols, manning of key and vulnerable points, blackspots, intelligence-led operations, community partnership, and inter-agency cooperation.
“In addition to this, residents of the state have been alerted to the information and reminded of their civic obligation to join hands with the police to address the threat posed by armed banditry by being extra-vigilant and report any suspicious movements of persons, especially strange faces in the communities. In particular, commercial farmers have been advised to continue to utilise the services of armed security guards and escorts to access their farms.
“Also, local hands have been deployed to help mount surveillance at their farms to assist their safe entry and exit from the farms, do everything possible to enhance visibility in and around their farms through lighting and erection of security towers.
“It is important to state we already have some useful tips for a well-honed-agenda to annihilate the bandits should they step into Ogun State.
‘’In pursuit of this legitimate goal, all ethnic groups in Ogun State, the Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Fulani, Edo, Igala, Urohbo, Ebira, and numerous others are united by a common goal to jointly fight whoever comes to disturb the peaceful environment in Ogun State.’’
No terror group’ll rise successfully in Nigeria, police vow
The Police authorities have vowed to ensure that any attempt by extremists to form new groups in any part of the country would be unsuccessful.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Olumuyiwa Adejobi gave assurance to The Nation while reacting to the arrest of 100 suspected terrorists in Osun State.
Adejobi added that Inspector-General of Police (IG) Kayode Egbetokun has ordered a rejig of policing strategies to ensure that crimes and criminalities remained low during the first quarter of this year.
“The police have reviewed their strategies in the fight against crimes and criminals in Nigeria. Just recently, the IG ordered commands and formations to prepare and forward their strategic action plans for the New Year to reduce crime drastically in the first quarter of the year 2025.
“We are not relenting in our efforts to aggressively take fights to the dens of criminals. No terror group will raise its head successfully again in any part of the country, .
“The EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) unit of the police has taken delivery of more equipment to tackle all forms of terrorism, insurgency, bombing, etc head-on.
“More equipment will be procured this year and more training to be done in all sectors of the police.
‘’The IGP has emplaced these strategies to improve our services in the year 2025 and beyond.”
