Osun govt moves against kidnappers, inaugurates joint security team

In view of the recent spate of kidnappings and other criminal activities in Osun State, the state governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, on Wednesday called a security meeting to fine-tune a strategic plan aimed at curbing the menace.

According to a statement by Mr Adeniyi Adesina, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the strategic plan would be predicated on intense collaborative efforts between the government and the leadership of security agencies, and in consultation with key stakeholders across the State.

The statement, made available to newsmen in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, disclosed that the intervention entails joint security patrol teams of the police, the military and paramilitary outfits to patrol the dark spots in the state and route criminals from their hideouts.

Adesina said, “During a meeting with top security officials on Wednesday, chaired by the Governor, the situation was reviewed and a decision to halt further attacks in any part of the State was taken.

“The meeting was attended by leadership of the Police, the Army, the Air Force, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) , the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

“The mandate of the joint patrol team is to support the activities of the Police Operation Puff Adder which has raised the stake in the battle against kidnapping and other forms of attacks on the people.

“Intelligence gathering has also been stepped up to give the necessary backing to the operations of the joint patrol teams. Governor Oyetola has given the needed logistics to the security operations to guarantee success.

“A zonal joint action against the rising spate of insecurity and criminality has also been taken by the Governors of the South West states of Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos. A meeting to fine tune the arrangement will hold in Abuja on Friday, June 7, 2019, after the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) meeting.”