By Bolaji Okunola
The Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, under the leadership of Hon. Tope Omolayo, has cemented partnership with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to combat high levels of insecurity which has recently halted peace and orderliness in the community.
The partnership was made during a recent security summit organised by the local government at the Achievers University, Owo.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and his deputy, Dr. Olayide Owolabi Adelami, were ably represented at the summit by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Security, Chief Olubenga Atiba. Also in attendance at the event were the Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas, Oba Ajibade Gbadegeshin Ogunoye III, who also doubles as the Olowo of Owo Kingdom, alongside other top dignitaries and security agencies, including representatives of the military and paramilitary agencies.
Highlighting the causes of insecurity in the community, Owo local government Chairman, Omolayo, said high level of unemployment amongst youths remains a key factor, while he further noted that Owo’s strategic location as a gateway to two geopolitical zones, namely Kabba, North Central and Benin City, South-South of Nigeria, as a major hindrance.
Omolayo decried the absence of punitive measures against perpetrators of kidnapping and violent crimes, debilitating inter-organisational rivalry among security agencies, tragic failure of critical agents of socialisation, such as family, school, religion, and culture. He also said the uncontrolled influx of un-profiled migrants, vast swathes of un-policed forest, general ignorance and lackadaisical attitude of citizens must be addressed by the relevant authorities in order to reclaim the community’s peace and sanity.
After a thorough appraisal of the issues, representative of the governor, Olugbenga Atiba, expressed his gratitude while tagging the summit as an eye opener capable of promoting orderliness and development in the state.
Adetiba, however, assured that security agencies will work on the motive behind the summit, after which he acknowledged that a security task force, well-funded and strategically deployed should be created to frontally deal with all forms of criminality in the local government area.
He said: “I’ve acknowledged all messages passed and I’m quite sure all security agencies represented here have also noted some key words which will help them in their duties. The governor has always been eager to proffer solutions to insecurity and all resolutions will be tabled before him for immediate action.”