Again, Oyo, Ogun security teams meet

The security teams from the Ogun and Oyo state governments have again met over the spate of kidnapping and other forms of crime on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

The Security Adviser to Oyo State Governor, Mr Fatai Owoseni, who disclosed this while speaking with our correspondent on Saturday, said efforts were being made to make sure that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was not turned into a kidnappers’ den.

He assured travellers that the governments of Oyo and Ogun states will do everything to ensure that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the adjoining forests are rid of criminals terrorising the people.

Owoseni, who is a former Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Benue states, said Oyo and Ogun states were working towards restoring safety to the very important road

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Owoseni said, “Prior to the nasty and unfortunate incident we had two weeks ago, we have always put measures in place to ensure that that road is safe for commuters, and of course it was even heightened when the two state governors met to put up a joint task effort in place.

 “Aside from the fact that security operatives with the encouragement of the government are working assiduously to ensure that the criminal elements are brought to justice and progress has been made to that, we are also putting measures in place to ensure that such won’t occur again. We have inaugurated our visibility on the road, it was a random thing and for random cases of kidnapping what matters most is visibility, unlike targeted ones.

“We have strengthened our visibility on the road, we have continued to re-strategise and ensure we don’t leave any gap; we are also getting the commitment of the Ogun State axis. We have taken further steps to follow the agreement of the two governors by following it to the letter.”

He added, “Both states are talking. On Thursday, the delegate from Ogun State came to Ibadan to meet the Commissioner of Police. On Wednesday, we went to Ogun to ensure that we streamline our deployment. Even today ( Saturday), we had an extensive deliberation, I mean the Ogun and Oyo security teams, to work out how to sustain it and ensure that criminal elements are dealt with.

“We are looking at how we can be proactive. With what is in place now, such a thing (kidnapping) will be a thing of the past. We pray that God crowns our efforts. We are working together to ensure that whatever that is put in place is sustained.”

He said the security agencies would also need the collaboration of traditional institutions and non-state actors to achieve the desired result in the area.

The former CP added, “We are looking for a way to optimise the local elements which is the informal sector within that community in tandem with traditional rulers. We are reawakening the consciousness of local security and monarchs on security. We also seek the support of the media to sensitise people online. We don’t need to be profiling victims of kidnap through the use of the media; it doesn’t help our work.”