By Banji Ayoola
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday gave his support and encouragement for Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in his resolve to flush out criminals from forests in the state.
A statement by the Information and Orientation Commissioner, Mr Donald Ojogo, said the governor, who is also the Chairman of the South West Governors Forum, got the presidential endorsement at a meeting with Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the statement: “In particular, Governor Akeredolu sought and indeed, obtained the president’s support and encouragement to flush out criminals in the forests of Ondo State.”
The statement, entitled “Insecurity: Akeredolu briefs Buhari in Aso Rock”: “Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Wednesday met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“The governor seized the opportunity of the meeting to brief the President as regards the precarious security situation in the region, especially Ondo state.
“The Governor met with the President at a meeting; and it centered on the issue of security concerns in the Southwest, especially in Ondo state.
“It was a huge opportunity for the governor to put the records straight as regards the erroneous impression that Governor Akeredolu had asked all Fulani and herdsmen to vacate the state.”
“The meeting afforded both leaders a great window to explore ingenious methods to tackle the issue of insecurity in the region.
“In particular, Governor Akeredolu sought and indeed, obtained the president’s support and encouragement to flush out criminals in the forests of Ondo State.
“It was a needful meeting and more of such are very likely in the days ahead as the unanimity of purpose against crime gets the desired attention”.
Akeredolu alongside his brother Governors from the Southwest region and their colleagues from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had met with the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Akure on Monday.
The meeting was at the instance of the Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi.
At the Monday meeting, both the Leadership of Miyetti Allah and the Governors threw their support behind Akeredolu’s directive that all herders occupying the forest reserves illegally should vacate them within seven days or properly get registered.
Also, the meeting affirmed the ban on night and underaged grazing and also outlawed the presence of cows in cities and highways.
Akeredolu, at an interactive meeting with the leadership of the Hausa/Fulani and Ebira communities in the state, had ordered all herdsmen in the state to register with the state government within seven days.
As reported by The Radiance on January 18 in a story titled: “Register With Govt Within Seven Days Or Be Forced Out, Akeredolu Tells Herdsmen” the governor declared firmly that he would not allow a few misguided individuals turn the sunshine state into a haven of dare-devil criminals.
He declared firmly that he would not allow a few misguided individuals turn the sunshine state into a haven of dare-devil criminals.
Besides, he ordered all herdsmen in all the state’s Forest Reserves to vacate within seven days with effect from Monday, January 18. He also banned night-grazing with immediate effect.
Akeredolu stated that security reports and debriefings from victims of kidnap cases pointed in one direction traceable to some bad elements masquerading as herdsmen.
He said it was worrisome that the criminals have turned forest reserves in the state and across the Southwest into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransom, and carrying out other criminal activities.
He prohibited the movement of cattle within cities and highways and outlawed under-aged grazing of cattle.
According to him, “As the Chief Law and Security Officer of the State, it is my constitutional obligation to do everything lawful to protect the lives and property of all residents of the State. This meeting, therefore, is convened to address the issues of insecurity with the ultimate aim of attaining the goal of a safe environment.
“Recent security trends attest that these times require all hands to be on the deck as the difficulties we face are dire. The challenges are quite enormous but we are determined to confront them head-on.
“We decided that all the criminal elements who hide under various guises to aid the destruction of farmlands as well as perpetrate other violent crimes such as kidnapping, drug peddling and other nefarious activities, must be stamped out of our dear State.
“I wish to reassure the residents that the State Security Council, under my leadership, shall not relent in tackling these challenges as pragmatically possible. We shall remove all threats in no distant future.
The meeting was also attended by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Bolaji Salami and the state commandant of the Amotekun Corps, Mr Tunji Adeleye.
Leaders of cattle rearers from different parts of the state said they would go back to talk to their people.
They also demanded to have a security outfit to help secure the forest.
