Ogun, Oyo Governors dump party difference to fight insecurity
…Promise to install CCTV on highways.
…Set up joint border security task force
By Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
Ogun and Oyo state governments yesterday said, CCTV cameras would be installed on border highways between the two states to check the activities of criminals.
Governor Dapo Abiodun and his Oyo state counterpart, Engr Seyi Makinde disclosed this in a communique, jointly released after a joint security meeting, held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, to address the spate of insecurity in both states.
The Governors who met with security heads from both states at the meeting tagged: “Ogun, Oyo Joint Security Meeting,” the bilateral session, also announced the setting up of a “high-Level Joint Security Committee” to tackle criminal activities along the boundary communities and interstate roads between the two states.
It would be recalled that there has been growing kidnapping and armed robbery incidents by gunmen, mostly suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in recent time.
In the seven-point communique which was read by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Oyo State, Oyelowo Oyewo, the two States also agreed to set up a Joint Border Security Task Force “with membership drawn from various security agencies in the two states, to patrol the border communities to ensure security of lives and property for the residents and commuters.”
The Governors also agreed to share experiences and intelligence on security matters, this according to them would assist the overall safety and security of lives and property in the two states and the nation at large.
The communique reads, after extensive deliberations, which included a review of the security architecture and initiatives in the two states, the meeting resolved as follows:
“To jointly collaborate on emergency / distress calls, especially on the highways that connect the two States.
“To effectively engage, cooperate and collaborate with all the stakeholders, including but not limited to the Federal Government, State, and non-state actors (traditional institutions, religious groups, community development associations, etc.) whose input and support are required for improved security in the two States and around the border communities.”
The meeting also agreed to implement the following initiatives in the short term:
“Threats assessment and analysis along the border corridors.
“Deployment of CCTV on the interstate highways
“Setting up of outposts along the border communities for the use of the Joint Border Security Task Force
“Harmonisation and mainstreaming of voluntary police and informal security outfits
“Timeous and diligent prosecution of criminals to signify the resolve of the governments of both states to clamp down on criminality. In this wise, the Attorneys-General of the two states should ensure synergy between law enforcement agencies and their prosecution departments or directorates during the investigative and prosecution phases of cases.”
Earlier in their separate welcome remarks, Abiodun and Makinde noted that the joint security effort “is urgent and much needed” towards addressing the insecurity challenges bedeviling the states.
Abiodun noted that, both states have peculiar security challenges and they have been tackling it independently with their own mechanisms.
According to him, the joint security effort would promote sustained economic development in the neighboring states.
Abiodun vowed that, “We will ensure no more hiding place for criminals.
“I will continue to make life intolerable for them (criminals) and I will continue to do it.”
On his part, Makinde said the joint security meeting “is the right thing to do and it is absolutely important we do it.”
The Oyo governor said, he and Abiodun had defied political party differences and pursued a common goal of fighting insecurity in their states.
He insisted that state policing is vital to addressing insecurity challenges at the grassroots.
