“We are after the criminals. It is only when we allow them to thrive that they will be able to carry out their nefarious activities.”
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo has charged relevant stakeholders to employ more tactical approaches in combating insecurity.
Mr Makinde gave the charge on Thursday, at an expanded security council meeting in Ibadan.
The meeting was attended by traditional rulers, heads of security agencies in the state, the new police commissioner, Williams Adebowale, local government chairmen and vice-chairmen.
The governor said the meeting was called following recent security breaches in Owo (Ondo), Kaduna, and other parts of the country.
He urged security agencies to improve their response time during emergencies and enhance cooperation and collaboration to ensure safety of lives and property.
Mr Makinde also sought for the cooperation of all levels of government and traditional institutions for security agencies in the country.
According to him, such cooperation has helped to improve the security situation in Oyo and made it relatively peaceful.
The governor called on residents to be security-conscious.
He called on traditional and religious leaders to sensitise their subjects and congregations on the need to alert security agents through the ‘615’ security code during emergencies.
“Security is everyone’s business. We will have a safer and more secure environment if everyone plays his part,” he stressed.
Mr Makinde reiterated that his administration would fight only criminals, insisting he “will not allow ethnic bigotry” in the state.
“We are after the criminals. It is only when we allow them to thrive that they will be able to carry out their nefarious activities,” he added.
Earlier, the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, Bayo Lawal, expressed confidence that the meeting would proffer solutions to security challenges in the state.
(NAN)
