By Bolaji Okunola
Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, under the leadership of Honorable Tope Omolayo, has cemented a partnership with state governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to combat the high level of insecurity that has recently halted peace and orderliness in the community.
The partnership was made during a recent security summit organized by the local government at Achievers University, Owo.
Gracing the summit, Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr. Olayide Owolabi Adelami were ably represented by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Security, Chief Olubenga Atiba. The event also saw 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 which includes representatives of military and paramilitary agencies.
Highlighting the causes of insecurity which has constantly befalls the community, Owo Local Government Chairman, Honorable Tope Omolayo disclosed high level of unemployment amongst youths remains a key factor while he further stated Owo’s strategic location as a gateway to two geopolitical zones, namely Kabba, North Central, and Benin City, South-South, Nigeria also remains a major hindrance.
Stressing further, Omolayo hinted 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, uncontrolled influx of unprofiled migrants, vasts swathes of unpoliced forest, general ignorance and lackadaisical attitude of citizens must be noted by responsible bodies in order to reclaim the community peace and sanity.
After a thorough appraisal of the issues, representative of the governor, Olugbenga Atiba expressed his gratitude while tagging the submit an eye opener capable of promoting orderliness and development to the state.
Adetiba, however assured security agencies will work on motive behind the summit after which he acknowledged 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.
In his words: I’ve acknowledged all messages passed and I’m quite sure all security agencies presented here have also noted some key words which will help them in the curse of their duty. The governor has always been eager to proffer solution to insecurity and all resolution we concluded at will all be tabled before him for immediate solution. Looking at the demands of the people of Owo which charged the government to creatively find a solution to the problem of unemployment in the society, warning to traditional rulers who derived pleasure selling lands to undocumented and unprofiled migrants and the enhancement of collaboration between government and traditional rulers will be address accordingly for the betterment of the state,” he assured.
The submits however came to conclusion with both parties demanding there should be marked improvement in synergy among security agencies, as well as enhanced information sharing between them and the people while urging security agencies to prioritise the use of cutting-edge security technologies, such as drones, surveillance cameras, and other reconnaissance gadgets capable of curbing social vices, such as cultism, thuggery, drug abuse, hooliganism amongst others.