•Urges a limit to night time events

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state has commiserated with the people of Ora Igbomina over recent banditry attacks, assuring that a military backed rescue and protection security operation has been underway for the past three days.

Speaking after an emergency security council meeting held on Wednesday evening, the Governor described the Ora incident as saddening and a major security breach even after almost all the water tight pre-emptive precautions already put in place in the last three months.

Reviewing the development with service commanders from the police, the army, the secret service and other paramilitary agencies, Governor Adeleke expressed confidence that the ongoing military backed security operations across the border towns would prevent recurrence of the attacks and also secure the release of the kidnapped retired custom officer.

“From the moment of the unfortunate incident, our security forces have launched a rescue and protection operations. For the past three days, both the police, the army and the DSS have been combing the areas for rescue and also reviewing the security apparatus. A delicate operation is ongoing and we don’t want to jeopardise the integrity of the process.

As part of our security plan, we will soon deploy the refurbished armoured tanks for operations across the state. We are also procuring patrol vehicles to strengthen police and security operations in the state. Additionally, we are reviewing the joint security patrol programme. It will be unveiled at the right time to further protect our people”, the governor noted.

To forestall any further security breach and possible spillover from Kwara State, Governor Adeleke has issued a new operational guidelines for the Amotekun security service, directing the Amotekun leadership to ensure proper coordination with the police in their operations.

The governor directed that an operational meeting be held between the police authorities and the Amotekun service to ensure proper coordination in future operations, warning that working in silos will no longer be tolerated.

According to the governor, Amotekun services should always involve the police in its operations to ensure synergy and service support, expressing happiness that the Amotekun will soon get back to the field under the new arrangement.

The governor who lamented the unfortunate Akinlalu incident said the Amotekun service has learnt lessons even as the law takes its course, affirming that the Amotekun service is needed more than ever in view of new security challenges facing the state.

“After the security council meeting, I am happy to announce that the Amotekun service will resume full operations under new guidelines I just issued. We are facing an emergency in our border towns and it is important to get the Amotekun back to the field as urgently as possible.

“I must however plead with members of the public to reduce late night activities. In addition to the banditry challenge, we are in the yuletide period when our people need to be security conscious. Criminals are targeting late night gatherings. We need to stick to daytime time event to further protect ourselves.

“I once again commiserate with victims of recent banditry attacks. We are working tirelessly to prevent reoccurrence”, the governor was quoted as saying in the press statement.

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