The Ondo State Police Command has launched a major security offensive in response to rising kidnapping concerns in the state, establishing a permanent tactical base in the Ilu-Abo community to bolster local protection.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, announced the deployment on Tuesday, following direct engagement with residents and community leaders who had recently staged protests regarding security lapses in the region.
The new tactical base, strategically located to cover the Ilu-Abo, Ayede, and Ogbese axes, is staffed by specialized anti-kidnapping operatives and elite tactical units.
These personnel are mandated to conduct 24-hour patrols, intensive surveillance, and forest-combing operations to dismantle criminal syndicates hiding in boundary communities.
”The Command is fully aware of the grievances of the people and is committed to restoring normalcy,” CP Lawal stated while addressing residents.
He confirmed that the new team would work in close coordination with local vigilantes, hunters, and nearby Divisional Police Officers to ensure real-time intelligence sharing and faster response times to any emerging threats.
In addition to the new base, the Command has intensified stop-and-search exercises and intelligence-led raids on suspected criminal hideouts.
The police authorities urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, emphasizing that all information provided by residents will be handled with strict confidentiality.
The Commissioner reiterated that the state will maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward violent crimes, vowing that the police will continue to adopt proactive measures to ensure the safety of all residents across the state.