Oyo State government has said there is no hiding place for bandits in the state, declaring that they would be fished out and dealt with, using the instrumentality of the law.
The government therefore assured all residents that it will leave no stone unturned to ensure the safety of everyone in the state.
The state government gave the assurance against the backdrop of news that some bandits from the northern parts of the country were infiltrating the state.
The government, during a press briefing after the state’s Joint Security Council meeting, presided over by Governor ‘Seyi Makinde on Tuesday, said all hands were on deck to fish out the bandits.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Compol Fatai Owoseni (rtd), briefed the media on the resolution of the State Security Council.
He urged the people to go about their lawful activities without any fear, assuring them that the state government would pull out all the stops to secure the life of everyone in the state.
Owoseni said, with the robust synergy among the security agencies in the state, the bandits and other criminal elements have nowhere to hide.
He also stated that Oyo was collaborating with neighbouring states to secure its borders and guard against influx of bandits.
To strengthen the security network in the state, Owoseni said the Council would hold expanded meetings that would incorporate local government chairmen as well as traditional rulers.
“The essence of this is to ensure that we take security to the grassroots. The local government administration is the third tier of government and is the closest to the people.
“In the same vein, traditional rulers are close to the people and know most people in their domains. By integrating them into the security network, we are taking security to the grassroots and carrying everyone along.
“Security is everybody’s business and we all have a role to play in ensuring that our state is safe from the antics of bandits and other criminal elements,” he added.
The former top cop said the Security Council also discussed the issue of decongestion of correctional centres, adding that the state would invoke its power of prerogative of mercy to set free some of the inmates.
Similarly, the Security Council discussed the issue of the health and wellbeing of inmates of correctional centres.
It came up with a recommendation that they should be enrolled on the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme to ensure that they have access to good healthcare.
“A decision on the health insurance scheme for correctional centre inmates would be taken at one of the subsequent Council meetings,” Owoseni said.
Others present at the briefing were the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State, Mr Abiodun Aikomo; Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Ayodele Sonubi; the Comptroller, Nigerian Correctional Service, Oyo State Command, CC Jaiyeoba Babafemi and the Comptroller Immigration Services, Oyo State Command, Joseph Dada.
