Following the increasing state of bank robbery and attacks on bank facilities across in its neighbouring states, Oyo State government on Tuesday summoned all security chiefs in the state to an emergency security meeting.
The meeting, attended by heads of security agencies in the state, bankers from various financial institutions, and other relevant stakeholders, held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.
Security stakeholders at the meeting included the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police, Department of State Security (DSS), National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and bankers.
The meeting was said to be to strengthen the security architecture and apparatus in the state with a view to preventing robbery attacks on banks and other financial institutions across the state.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi, while declaring the meeting open said the meeting was convened based on his vision and mission to ensuring a crime-free State.
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The governor was represented by his deputy, Otunba Moses Adeyemo at the meeting which was also attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olalekan All, Ajimobi’s Special Adviser on Security Mr. Segun Abolarinwa and other top government functionaries.
Ajimobi who boasted that there has not been any successful bank robbery incident in the state since his emergence as the governor on May 29, 2011, noted that his administration is keen on keeping and maintain the status quo.
He said, “This meeting has been convened in reaction to an observation of a noticeable increase in the activities of criminals in neighboring states, especially attacks on our banks. In line with these observations, the State Government believes that an anticipatory approach is needed to counter/forestall any such happenings in Oyo State.
“The state is ready to continue to support all security agencies present in Oyo State to achieve their primary functions. This is in the realization of the fact that it is only where there is peace that development can occur and the main goal of this administration is to better the lot of its citizenry. I once emphasized at a previous occasion that the entrenchment of a peaceful atmosphere has thus given room for all the developmental projects which we have been able to implement.”
“It is a common knowledge that before the inception of this administration in 2011, insecurity in form of armed robberies, arson and other violent crimes as well as lawlessness from the nefarious activities of ‘area boys’ had been the order of the day.
“The prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state has been the result of the zero tolerance for crime by this administration and also through the commitment of the State Government to combating crime through steps such as the establishment of Oyo State Joint Security Patrol Squad code named ‘Operation Burst’ as well as the setting up of the Oyo State Security Trust Fund.”
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Ajimobi stated further that the monthly state security council meeting has also allowed for a robust review of the activities of all the security agencies in keeping the state abreast of all challenges.
“For the furtherance of our agenda on safety and security, we embraced the safe city project, which utilises cutting edge technology solutions to nip crime and criminality in the bud. I can confirm that the installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) in black spots and business districts in the city to monitor the activities of criminals has been completed and is now operational,” Ajimobi said.
He enjoined all the stakeholders at the security meeting to support the government and work together during the “festive season and upcoming election period to enable us to continue to provide an investor friendly environment that will increase the economic profile of the state. You have all been a part of our success story in this regard”, he added.