Ogun State Government has inaugurated a total of 137 Marshals to complement the effort of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety (SO-SAFE) Corps.
They comprised 27 Grand Marshals, 41 Special Marshals, and 69 Corps Marshals.
This was disclosed in a communique signed by the Assistant Press Officer of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Oluwakemi Faleti and made available to Nigerian NewsDirect on Wednesday.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon, Afolabi Afuape who spoke at the inauguration ceremony in Abeokuta, was quoted to have said security had been the priority of the government in protecting lives and property of citizens.
Afuape noted that investments opportunities would be guaranteed when there was adequate security of the environment, adding that the present administration would not relent in its efforts at providing security at all times.
The Commissioner assured SO-SAFE Corps that the government would intensify efforts at improving their welfare for better performance.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, represented by his deputy, Hon. Akeem Balogun said efforts of the security outfit had enhanced the peaceful atmosphere in the nooks and crannies of the State.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, AIG Olusola Subair urged the agency to be innovative in their activities and tackle criminality in all ramifications, for the State to maintain its position as the most peaceful in the country.
AIG Saburi enjoined the newly inaugurated Marshals to always make intelligence reports available not only to SO-SAFE Corps but to other security agencies in the State.
Earlier in his address, the Commandant of the agency, Commander Soji Ganzallo, said the Marshals were expected to gather information across the communities to assist the government on security issues.
Ganzallo stated the Marshalls were chosen based on their experiences and expertise on security matters, assuring that his agency would maintain synergy with other security outfits to further create an enabling environment and criminally-free society.
Responding, some of the newly inaugurated Marshals, Bishop Adewale Olaitan and Alhaji Ibrahim Olaniyan appreciated the agency for allowing them to serve the people in their various communities, promising to discharge their responsibilities diligently.
Highlights of the event were handing-over over patrol vehicles and motorcycles to its various commands across zones and presentation of awards to outstanding officers in the outfit.