Southwest Security Summit: Oyetola Urges IGP To Change Recruitment Strategy

…As Govs Reiterate Commitment To Stamp Out Criminal Elements In The Region

The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has urged the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, to consider the states’ peculiarities in the recruitment of the new police officers and men.

Similarly, he said the government has been maintaining the 25 Armoured Personnel Carriers it donated to complement the work of security operatives in the state and it was planning to buy more.

He said the police must not shy away from the critical needs of each of the states of the federation in the recruitment exercise by ensuring that applicants are recruited locally and deployed to serve in their various localities after training.

Governor Oyetola spoke on Monday while addressing participants at the South West Geopolitical Zone Security Summit, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

He said the call is necessary in the quest to strengthen collaboration between the community and the police and as well help to enhance intelligence gathering for the agency.

Oyetola noted that the engagement of locals into the police would help the institution to properly penetrate the localities and communities for effective and efficient service delivery.

The governor, who lamented the shortage of police personnel in the country, advocated for recruitment of more officers and men into the force.

In Osun, he noted, the administration has been working hard to maintain its status as the most peaceful and safest state in Nigeria, adding that it has also developed a security roadmap aimed at strengthening the security architecture in the state.

Describing the Summit as significant in view of the security challenges confronting the country particularly the South West, Oyetola said the recommendations from the summit would further help the governors in their bid to strengthening security in the region.

“On our part, we have been doing our best to champion the core fundamental objectives of government which is the security of lives and property of the citizens.

“We are providing logistics to our security agencies. We have maintained the available security vehicles- 25 Armoured Personnel Carriers. We are planning to buy more. We are also planning to build helipad to boost security surveillance in the state and ensure effective performance.

“We have approached the Security Chiefs to stamp out those criminals that are parading themselves as miners. It is in view of this that I commend my colleagues in the South West for the synergy that exists between us regardless of politics to keep our region safe”, Oyetola added.

In his remarks, the host governor, Seyi Makinde reiterated the commitment of the South West governors to ensuring peace, unity and stability in the region.

He said: “It is as a result of the deteriorating security situation that we governors in the region came together to develop a security roadmap to combat all forms of security challenges in the region.

“We also reached a consensus that measures should be put in place with workable regional approach to addressing insecurity in the six states.

“We are committed to building a robust partnership with all sectors with a view to ensuring peace, safety, stability and peaceful co-existence in the region.

“We shall be applying technology in fighting crime and criminality. We will promote synergy to raise the bar of professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness among the security personnel. ”

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, commended the quality leadership of the Nigerian Police for taking the bull by the horn in addressing the security challenge in the country.

He assured that the governors in the region will do everything possible to collaborate with the police to free the country particularly the region from any form of crime and criminality.

Akeredolu who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, said the region will not rest on its oars until criminal elements are flushed out.

The Convener of the Summit and the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, said the Summit was organised as part of efforts to strengthen the security in the region and ensure adequate protection of lives and property of the citizens.

He assured that people’s opinions and views would be documented so as to enhance security in the region.

Adamu who emphasised the need for community policing, expressed hope that the Summit would help the institution in the actualisation of its objectives on citizens approach to combat security challenges in the country.

The governors at the Summit include: Osun state Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu represented by the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Amzat; Ondo State Governor and the Chairman South West Governors Forum, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu represented by the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Raimot Salako Oyedele and Ekiti State Governor and Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, also represented by the Deputy Governor, Adebisi Egbeyemi.

Among the traditional rulers in attendance are: Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji; Alake of Ake, Oba Adedotun Aremu; Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi; Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran and Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun.

The Are Ona Kankaofo, Otunba Gani Adams and other stakeholders in the region were in attendance.