OSOGBO – 9/08/2023 – Osunstate.gov.ng

Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for the establishment of a trans – regional security taskforce to curtail growing cross border criminality just as the General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Valentine Okoro lauded the Osun state Governor for creating a safe and secure environment for residents to live and conduct lawful businesses.

The GOC 2 Division of the Nigerian Army gave the commendation when he paid a courtesy call on the Governor in the Office.

The General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Valentine Okoro led members of his team among whom were the Commanders of Engineering Construction Command Ede, among others to pay a working visit to the Governor.

The GOC said he was in Osun as part of efforts to familiarize himself with the operational procedures in states under his Command.

According to him, he found that Osun State is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria and therefore commended the Governor for his huge investment in securing lives and property of the people.

Major General Okoro described Osun State as lucky with the presence of the Engineering Construction Command, Ede, which is full of all sorts of Army Engineers, specialists and combatants that contribute to the security architecture of the State.

He appreciated the government and people of Osun for creating a stable and secure environment. He therefore called for more collaboration between the security agencies and the people not just to secure but to sustain the stable environment but to improve on it by volunteering relevant and genuine information to the Nigerian Army which he described as people-centric.

Welcoming the General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army to the state, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke said the visit is very significant and a great opportunity to strengthen the security strategy on the sustenance of the current peace and stability not just in Osun but in the region.

Governor Adeleke therefore called for the establishment of a regional task force to track and curb cross border criminality in the south west and other areas under his Command.

While calling for a symbiotic working relationship between the state government and the GOC, Senator Adeleke assured the military team that Osun is the home of hospitality where no one is discriminated against based on tribe, ethnicity or religion.

Senator Adeleke lauded the commander of Engendering Construction Regiment, Ede Army Barrack, Brig. Gen. K F Sulaimon for a wonderful job in securing the state saying that the knowledge of the military barrack in Ede is enough deterrent to criminals who might be scouting for a place to perpetuate their criminal activities .

Signed
Mallam Olawale Rasheed,
Spokesperson to the State Governor.

The Western Nigeria Security Network also known as Amotekun Corps on Saturday rescued nine persons who were kidnapped by unknown gunmen along Ipetumodu-Ilesa expressway in Osun State.

The victims were rescued by the joint patrol team of the corps in Ondo and Osun states.

Speaking on the development, the Chairman of the Council of Amotekun Commanders in the South-West region and Ondo State Commander of the corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, stated this at the Ondo headquarters of the corps in Akure, the state capital.

Adeleye stated that after the victims had been rescued, efforts were ongoing to arrest the perpetrators.

According to him, the corps responded to a distress call at about 1am on Saturday and immediately they moved into the forest to rescue the victims, who were travellers.

He said, “Around 1am, we got a distress call from one of the families of the kidnap victims that the kidnappers called, asking for ransom. We thereafter moved into action. We were able to track the kidnappers. The victims were rescued and some of their valuables were retrieved but the kidnappers ran away.

“It was along Ipetumodu axis in Osun state and when we got to a village about 10km away from the road, we found out that the den is a regular dump area for kidnappers because we found so many items which show that it is a permanent place where they keep kidnap victims.

“However, we were able to rescue nine victims and a vehicle. Our men are there in the bush trailing the kidnappers but our major concern was to rescue the victims.

“Our medical team have been attending to them and after completion, we would take them to their various destinations so they can reunite with their families”

Adeleye noted that the move was to further reassure, specifically, the people of Ondo and Osun states, that Amotekun would stop at nothing in joining forces with other security agencies at ensuring that criminals are driven away from the states.

One of the victims, Ife Balogun, while narrating her ordeal, said they were traveling from Lagos to Ekiti state before the unfortunate incident.

She further narrated that their abductors kept them in the forest for several hours before the Amotekun corps invaded the camp and rescued them.

The Osun State Police Command has frowned at any protest in commemoration of the one year anniversary of ENDSARS saga which is scheduled to hold tomorrow 20th October, 2021 will not be allowed in the State.

In a press statement e-signed and released to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) by the Command’s Spokesperson SP Opalola Yemisi Olawoyin stated that, “The intelligence that availed the police command revealed clandestine plans by some youths/group of people to embark on protest in commemoration of one year anniversary of ENDSARS saga which is scheduled to hold tomorrow 20th October, 2021.”

According to Opalola, In view of this, the Commissioner of police CP Olawale Olokode, psc, warned individual or group of individuals that are planning such in the state and their sponsor(s) to stop the plan or any of such action (s) forthwith as the Command will not allow a repeat of last year ENDSARS saga and is fully prepared to use all legitimate means to avert such intending protest.

Consequently, the State Police Command will not tolerate any unlawful protest/gathering or assembly that will jeopardize the peace of the state as the last year ‘ENDSARS saga protest’ still lingers in the minds of Nigerians especially the Police and other security agencies which caused pain, anguish, needless loss of lives and wanton destruction of public and private property.

Therefore, the Commissioner of Police has given marching order to the Area commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical units to be at alert and nip in the bud any act capable of truncating the peace of the state.

The CP advised parents and guardians to warn their wards to be law abiding, and desist from such planned protest/gathering/ assembly as the State Police Command will arrest and prosecute defaulters.

The CP advised the good people of the state to go about their lawful daily activities while the Command has taken necessary security measures to forestall any likely breakdown of law and order.

The Osun State Police have secured the release of seven abductees kidnapped along Ibokun/Osogbo Road.

The commuters were kidnapped on Tuesday by an armed group, according to a statement by the Osun Police Spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola.

“The victims were released due to the pressure mounted on the abductors by the Police and other security agencies.

“The victims will soon be reunited with their families.

“The Commissioner of Police appeals to the good citizens of the State to collaborate with Police to get rid of all criminal elements from the State, while assuring the members of the public and commuters of their safety as security measures have been put in place to forestall future occurrence”, the statement read in part.

The State Government of Osun hereby reiterates that the curfew necessitated by the need to rid our streets and communities of violence and damages, is till further notice.

This by implication means that the State Government has not approved the movement of people at any time of the day within the period of the curfew.

Kindly be informed that the curfew is not a punitive measure; rather, it is to keep our streets safe, our children safe and to ensure that our business owners do not suffer any more losses.

Citizens are enjoined to cooperate with the government by staying safe, so that we do not suffer more physical, financial and psychological damages.

The State Government assures that the curfew will be lifted as soon as our collective safety is guaranteed.

Signed:

Prince Wole Oyebamiji

Secretary to the State Government

The government of the State of Osun has declared a three-day fasting and prayers for the restoration of peace and tranquility in the State.

Osun government, in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, said that the fasting and prayers would hold from Tuesday, 20th October to Thursday, 22nd October 2020.

The statement read in part: “Osun is known for peaceful co-habitation amongst her citizens, but recent occurences in the State appear to threaten the enviable peace profile of Osun. Therefore, citizens are enjoined to observe the three days fasting and prayer for the peace of the state.

“We also implore royal fathers and religious leaders to observe this rewarding spiritual exercise for the sake of the peace of the State, and mobilize as many people in doing same.

“Also, observance of this exercise would not require a public holiday or a large congregation at any designated place”, the statement read.

As part of steps to ensure total compliance with its lockdown directive imposed to curb spread of COVID-19, the State Government of Osun has mounted barricades at all boundaries leading into the State and on major roads within the State. 

This follows the announcement that the 14-day lockdown in the State was not a curfew, but a total lockdown with no affordance of human and vehicular movements.

The State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode during an interview with newsmen on Tuesday, said the barricades were erected to throttle back unauthorized movements across the State. She stated that the government was intensifying efforts to flatten the curve of COVID-19 in the State and avoid a resurgence of the disease. 

Egbemode said further: “the Government is determined to protect Osun and its citizens. Hence, this move by the Government is to keep defiant people from hurting themselves and endangering others.”

“The barricades will only be opened to essential duty vehicles, conveying materials needed for the fight against COVID-19. Non-essential travels and movements remain banned in the State of Osun till further notice”, she added.

Corroborating Egbemode, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Adeleke Yekini Adebayo, who doubles as a member of the State COVID-19 Task Force, noted that the government installed physical barricades at its boundaries to ensure safety of its citizens, stressing that the action was to prevent human and vehicular movements from neighboring states with increasing number of COVID-19 cases. He further said that the laws guiding the operation of the total lockdown and the general security of the people remain in force, adding that “relevant security agencies are on alert to ensure total compliance of the regulation and guarantee safety and security of the people.”

The Osun State Police Command has arrested a middle-aged man in Osogbo for impersonating the State Government to swindle unsuspecting citizens of the state under the guise of providing social relief during the stay-at-home period. 

This follows a public service announcement from the State Government of Osun, warning its citizens to beware of criminally-minded people who are demanding for personal and security details in exchange for money and relief materials. 

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor of Osun on Security, Mrs Abiodun Ige, said the suspect collected the Voter’s Card of some people in Olorunda Local Government Area, with the assurance that they would receive the sum of N10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira ) each through an unnamed  Non-Governmental Organisation.

Ige said that some of the people whose cards have been collected have already been contacted and intimated of the government’s position on the matter.  She added that the police have launched an investigation to track down the suspect’s accomplices.   Meanwhile, the State’s Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation has revved up its awareness drive that the State Government of Osun is not asking anyone for his/her personal security details in exchange for money during this stay-at-home period.