The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) have pledged to work with security agencies to check the worsening insecurity in Osun State.
At a crucial meeting on Tuesday in Osogbo, the state capital, MACBAN promised to work closely with the OPC to strengthen security in the state.
It held against the backdrop of worsening security situation in the state where herdsmen have allegedly been on rampage in recent times, abducting and killing people on highways in the state.
Speaking at the meeting, OPC leader in the state, Ahaji Leke Akintayo said the group is worried over the spate of abductions and other criminal activities in the state.
He said that OPC is ready to collaborate with security agencies to tackle the escalating security challenges rocking in the state.
He issued a seven-day ultimatum to leaders of MACBAN to fish out bad eggs among them in the interest of peace in the state.
Akintayo, who noted that the goal of the OPC since it was founded in 1998 is to protect lives and property, warned herdsmen perpetrating crimes to vacate the state or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
His words: “We called for this peace meeting to find lasting solutions to the issue of security breakdown such as kidnapping, armed robbery and all sorts of criminal activities in the state.
“Over the years, Osun State has been adjudged the most peaceful state in Nigeria until recently when criminals invaded our land and started kidnapping our people.
“We will use everything within our reach to ensure that the bad eggs among the Fulanis are flushed out of the state.
“We are a law-abiding group. We are working in collaboration with the police, DSS, Civil Defence and other paramilitary groups to make sure we curb the menace of insecurity in our state.
“We want to sound a note of warning to these criminals to desist from terrorising our people.
“There is need for the good among the herdsmen to fish out the bad eggs among them within seven days in the interest of peace.’’
The Chairman of the Osun State Branch of MACBAN, Alhaji Abdulahi Alilu, pledged to give maximum support to the OPC and other security agencies to curb insecurity in the state.
Represented by one Seriki Soliu, a member of the association, Alilu said that cattle breeders were also victims of kidnapping.
He promised to work closely with the OPC to ensure that criminals were brought to book.
Mr Muhammad Adam, the spokesman of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria also known as Fulani Intelligence Squad, assured that the group would work closely with the OPC to foster security in Osun.
Oyetola appeals To Chief Of Army Staff For Help
Worried by the spate of insecurity in Osun State, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola had, few days ago taken the insecurity issue to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai, appealing to him to speed up action on the planned joint security team to combat worsening security challenge in the state.
The Governor made the passionate appeal at a crucial meeting with Buratai in Abuja, according to a statement issued in Osogbo by the his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Adeniyi Adesina.
Osun State government had announced that a joint security team of policemen, soldiers and operatives in other security agencies would be set up to patrol the highways and dark spots.
The statement said that the governor told the Chief of Army Staff that his visit was a follow up to the letter of request sent to him to support the security efforts in the state.
Oyetola commended Buratai for the efforts of the military whose engineers are constructing a bridge across River Osun to connect Ede with Kuta in Ayedire Local Government Area and other communities in the state.
According to the statement, the governor said the South West governors have also resolved to organise a security summit.
He said the summit was to prepare a joint plan to combat the rising crime in the geopolitical zone, especially on the Ibadan-Akure road where bandits had launched attacks on travellers.
The statement quoted Buratai as assuring the governor that he would make all the efforts to support the security efforts in Osun.
He reiterated that the army had always supported the police in ensuring internal security.
PM News/NAN
