[left][/left]DAILY POST Sun 02nd Jul, 2017 19:17
Oyo State Government has urged residents in the state to expose suspected criminals in their domain.

It stated that this was necessary so as to complement and sustain government’s efforts at making the state a safe haven for them and visitors.

Executive Secretary, Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSTFF), Mr. Femi Oyedipe who made this plea at the weekend, explained that the state government in conjunction with the security agencies in the state was working round the clock to arrest the pockets of armed robbery incidents in some areas.

“The government and security agencies cannot do the task of protecting our community alone.

“We need the support of the people of the state. We cannot be in all the nooks and crannies of Oyo State at the same time and this is why we need the support of our people.

“We want them to collaborate with us to expose criminals in their domains and we guarantee the protection of their identities as we have been doing”.

He then called on the residents to take advantage of the control and emergency numbers regularly released by the police for feedback, noting that the OYSSTF will also release its communication room details being set up to complement the control room of the police to the general public soon.

Oyedipe assured that the identity of informants will be protected, warning that government and security agencies will not treat with kid gloves anyone who wants to mislead them or whoever stands in the way of justice.

He revealed that the repositioned state’s crime-fighting outfit, Operation Burst, will be launched in a matter of days to increase and improve crime-fighting potency and smoke out evil doers from the state.

“The unique collaborative efforts of all the security agencies and stakeholders in the state have given the state unprecedented orderly and peaceful environment in the last 6 years.

“Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s name is synonymous with peace and he has been able to bar brigandage and thuggery from the state.

“However, we still have pockets of crimes which we are working round the clock to curtail. That is why we must involve communities in security and policing efforts.

“We know it looks unachievable to have 100% crime free society but we are doing everything humanly possible to achieve this goal.

“We will not relent in our security measures which have positioned the state as a safe haven for investors and at the same time support the industrial revolution going on in the state”, he stated.

Oyedipe assured that OYSSTF will continue to support security agencies in the state to ensure peace and tranquility through the provision of equipment.

To God belongs the Kingdom of Heaven and the Earth, He creates what He wills, … Verily Allah is all knower and able to do all things

Oyo state should take a cue from Lagos and set up a neighborhood watch to complement the work being done by the vigilante groups set up by community land lord associations. Crime has started rearing its ugly head again and we need to nip it in the bud before it becomes something else. New people are relocating to Ibadan in droves and the crowd is proving a challenge for security.

I am baffled that Governors carry the responsibility of chief security officer but yet lack sense on how to deploy effective security networks and protect citizens. As many kidnappers and ritualists been caught the trade has not lost appeal. This is because the consequence is ineffective and criminals calculate government laxity into the odds of a successful operation as a winning trade off.