Communities in Igbeti and Igboho in Olorunsogo and Orelope Local Government Areas of Oyo State have raised alarm over bandits and kidnappers’ turning the Old Oyo National Park into hideouts.
The people stated this when the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Adenola and some senior officers of the command visited Igbeti, Kishi and Saki communities of Oyo State on Friday.
The Chairman of Olorunsogo LGA, Mr Qoseem Olayanju, represented by his Vice, Mr Adetoro Adegbola, said the residents in the local government were experiencing security challenges due to the presence of the park.
Olayanju said that Igbeti had been relatively peaceful in the past, but now experiencing security challenges due to the presence of bandits and kidnappers in the Park.
He acknowledged the efforts of the police and other security agencies, but urged them to do more by deploying drones and other sophisticated equipment in the park to flush out the crimals.
Also speaking, the Onigbeti of Igbeti, Oba Bashir Abioye, pledged his support to the police and other security agencies to ensure peace in Igbeti community.
Abioye solicited for deployment of more security personnel, adding that he proritised security and believed in proactive measures rather than reactive.
Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Igboho, Oba Joel Olalere represented by High Chief Ebe Lawrence, said that presence of the Old Oyo National Park posed danger to the community.
He said that many of the bandits and kidnappers hide in the forest reserves to commit their atrocities.
Lawrence commended the existing synergy between the police and sister security agencies in Olorunsogo and Orelope LGAs and called for deployment of drones in the park to flush out the bandits for peace to reign.
The Chairman of Miyeti Allah in Igbeti, Umar Usman, commended the Commissioner of Police for the visit and expressed sadness over some criminals among the Fulani herdsmen who were tarnishing the reputation of others.
Usman said that not all Fulani herdsmen are criminals, noting that the indigenes and Fulanis have been living together peacefully in the communities for a long time.
He urged the police to arrest and prosecute anyone caught involved in atrocities among the Fulani herdsmen.
In his remarks, Adenola said that the aim of the visit was to speak with the people, understand the security challenges confronting them and to solicit their cooperation in tackling insecurity.
The CP assured residents of the communities that the security challenges would be tackled adding that the police and other security agencies would continue to collaborate to ensure peace in the state as a whole.
“We are aware that banditry and kidnaping issues are noticeable security challenges in Igbeti, Igboho and other communities in Olorunsogo and Orelope LGAs due to the presence of the Old Oyo National Park.
“The police and the military recently had an operation in that axis where we neutralised two bandits and recovered two AK-47 rifles.
“The Oyo State government and security agencies in the state are totally committed to ensure peace in those areas and are planning more operations to flush out those bandits.
“But I can’t give you the details because of security,” the CP said.
Adenola said that the police would not relent untill there was peace in the communities and the state in general and make the state unconducive for criminals to hide.
Freedomonline reports that the Commissioner of Police and his entourage also visited the Palace of Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Oyedepo to solicit the support of the traditional ruler in fighting security challenges.
In his remarks, the Okere of Saki, who commended the security agencies for their efforts in tackling insecurity in the town, urged them to do more.
According to him, activities of kidnappers and bandits in the area are scaring the people from going to their farms.
Oyedepo said that Saki, a very large community, was mostly populated by farmers, adding that the number of Police personnel presently in the town was inadequate.
The CP admitted that the Oke-Ogun region of the state was experiencing some security challenges including farmers-herders clash.
He said that strategies were in the works to address the issue of inadequate manpower and funding.
