Insurgency, kidnapping: Aregbesola calls for synergy between Police, DSS

…..as IGP commends Osun for supporting Police

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Monday said the challenge of insurgency and kidnapping can be overcome in Nigeria if there is an effective synergy between the Nigeria Police and the Department of the State Security Service (DSS).

The governor stated this when the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House‎ in Osogbo.

This was even as the IGP commended Governor Aregbesola for his giant strides of transforming Osun in the last five years of assumption as the Governor of the state.

Aregbesola noted that the two security agencies of government must work symbiotically for the interest of Nigeria’s democracy, saying that civilisation is possible only on the basis of security.

He added that the synergy needed by the agencies must be effective to penetrate the ranks of insurgents and kidnappers thus bringing their activities to a halt in the country.

According to him, “The Police and the DSS must synergise, they must share intelligence because perpetrators of kidnapping and people who carry out the act of insurgency are human beings. With adequate intelligence, it will be easier to penetrate their ranks and liquidate whatever evil plan they have before the carry it out.

“I am appealing to the two agencies who are today Federal Government agencies to realise the need for the two of them working together in the interest of effective maintenance of peace and order, particularly on the issue of kidnapping which is assuming a frightening dimension.

“If their acts have been nipped in the bud at their nascent stages, we would not have the monstrous expression of them as we see now. So please, I plead for the two civil security agents that are vital for the maturation of our democracy,” Aregbesola advised.

The governor however used the occasion to call on the Inspector General of Police to provide an additional six Area Commands of police in the Federal Constituency in the state to make nine Police Area Commands.

“We are happy that our administration has brought better atmosphere of peace, we will improve on the ambience of peace and security, we are working towards total eradication of crime in our state.

“The IGP can still help us in the discharge of responsibility of police by providing Area Commands in each of our Federal constituencies, just nine, we have three now, Osun needs nine, why am I requesting for nine when threat to peace are limited?

“We are requesting in conscious ‎awareness of the overworking of your men here. They are over stretched.” The governor told the IGP.

He called Nigerians to see the Police as their friend, saying that under the leadership, police exist for them to go about their daily activities and well-being.

Speaking earlier, IGP Solomon Arase lauded Aregbesola for his appreciation of the ‎police by providing them with equipment that will make the discharge of their duties effectively.

The IGP said he will do everything at his disposal to ensure that men of the Nigeria Police Force respect the fundamental rights of Nigerians‎, adding that the police under his watch will be civilised in the way they deal with civilians.

He called on traditional rulers in the state to assist police in its work as the space is bigger for the police alone, saying Community policing is added form of Police.

The IGP said, “My coming to Osun today is to conduct two or three functions, one, to congratulate you on the giant strides you are making in developing Osun, two, to say thank you to you for the assistance you are giving to the state police command.

“The Police are men who put out their lives for the peace of the country, they operate in an hostile environment yet they are not appreciated, I thank you for appreciating them. , also I have come to Osun for the passing out of unit commanders in Ila Orangun,” he said.