Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday said the only potent method to tackle insecurity around the country was to involve the local community through community policing arrangement.
He described traditional rulers as important component of security architecture in all the communities in Nigeria, adding that there was ongoing consultations among critical stakeholders.
Osinbajo stated this in Osogbo, the Osun State capital after meeting with traditional rulers in the state for consultations over security challenges in the state particularly and South West region in general.
“We are meeting purposely to understand the security architecture of the region; you know we have already had consultations with state governors from the South West.
“This consultations continued, and we are meeting with traditional rulers because they are important component of our architecture, particularly because we are working on community policing.
“Community policing remains one of the method of policing we have adopted, and I am sure you had the Inspector General of Police talking about recruiting police locally from their local governments, those who understand the environment, the language and the culture of the people they are policing.
“We are confident that this method will work, with these men and women on ground in all the our communities”, Osinbajo said.
Governor Gboyega Oyetola in his welcome address said the recent security challenges in the state had altered the hitherto peaceful atmosphere the people of the state had enjoyed in the past.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Benedict Alabi asserted that the menace of insecurity in some states around the country had adversely affected the security architecture of the state.
He explained that the state is strategically vulnerable due to a very long stretch of the Federal highway from the boundary with Oyo State in Asejire to Owena, and the boundary with Ondo State.
Oyetola added that his government is vigorously working to put stop to security breaches in the state, in collaboration with other stakeholders.
“We held security meeting with all stakeholders in the state in Osogbo and followed it up with another meeting in Ife-Ilesa zone, the mining-rich area, so as to address the influx of criminals into the communities.”
“Governors in the South West have held a security summit whose decision to work jointly is a panacea for the menace, as we have collaborated with the neigbouring States, mobilized vigilance groups and local hunters to police the flash points and other parts of the State”.
“I have visited mining sites to assess the security situation there and the extent of environmental degradation, I also visited the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the State Security Service, to solicit support for our security plans.
“Permit me, Mr. Vice President, to use this medium to thank the heads of security agencies, my brother South West Governors, our revered traditional rulers, the good people of The State of Osun and the media for their cooperation and support, which has led to the reduction in the crime rate”.
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