Four chairmen of the local government areas in Oyo Federal Constituency have promised to intensify efforts at curtailing kidnappings in the area.
The Chairmen of Oyo East, Oyo West, Atiba and Afijio councils of Oyo state made this commitment after a joint security meeting held in Atiba Town Hall.
The meeting offered the opportunity to map out strategies to combat cross-border banditry.
In his welcome address, the executive Chairman of Atiba Local Government, Hon Wahab Waliu Adetunji (Wabkem), said the meeting came up at the right time and all hand must be on deck if the lives and properties of our people must be protected.
Speaking during the meeting, the Chairman of Oyo East Local Government, Hon. Oluokun Peter Olusola, said the security alert raised over alleged infiltration of some of our forests spurred the meeting.
The Council boss stated that they have decided to work together by rallying local hunters and Amotekun corps to patrol the boundaries to ward off bandits, who have been banking on the porosity of the area to commit crimes.
Hon Oluokun said: “This meeting was aimed at improving the security situation and how best to strengthen our security architecture in the current fight against kidnapping, killing, and herders-farmers clashes.
Oluokun said land disputes between the Afijio and Oyo must be set aside if at all we want to curb security challenges. He added that Afijio Local Government and other three local governments must work together to achieve utmost peace
Lending his voice to the deteriorating security situation in the area, the Chairman of Afijio Local Government, Hon Aikomo, commended the security agency for being sensitive to the plights of the people at the rural areas.
Aikomo said the actions being taken by the four chairmen had helped in stemming the tide, adding that the situation could have been worse if not for the proactive steps being intensified by the four local government.
In attendance during the meeting were Oba/Baale, community leaders, religious leaders, all the security agency across Oyo Federal Constituency
