Akure: Joint security agencies in Ondo State have reiterated their commitment to safeguarding lives and property, and ridding the state of kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Mr Adebowale Lawal, State Commissioner of Police (CP), made the emphasis while speaking with newsmen during a joint show of force organised by security agencies on Monday in Akure.
“We are just implementing a coordinated joint show of force among the security agencies, the military, the police, civil defense, and DSS to show the good people of Ondo State that we have occupied the space.
“It is also to show that there is collaborative effort among the security agencies to fight crime and criminality in the state.
“You will recall that recently, we had pockets of incidents, especially around the Akure North axis.
“So I thought it was the right time to do this. And again, you know we are preparing for Sallah too, to show them that we are really on track,” Lawal said.
Also, Mr Adetunji Adeleye, Commander, Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, said the synergy was to stamp out all forms of criminality, especially kidnapping, robbery and other crimes in the state.
Adeleye, who said the personnel would enter the metropolis, said they would also comb the bushes and scrutinise the nooks and crannies of the state.
“This is going to be a continuous exercise and we will go round everywhere to ensure that the state remains safe as usual and that all forms of criminality are stamped out as much as possible.
“You can see that men of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, the Civil Defence and the Amotekun Corps are firmly on ground.
“We want to go around on foot, on motorcycles and in vehicles to all the nooks and crannies.
“After that, we will move into the forest to carry out the phase two of the operation “Le Won Jade”. We want to drive miscreants out of the forest and push kidnappers away from those areas,” he said.
The commander also reassured air travellers of their safety, and said personnel were firmly on ground in the bushes behind the airport and at the entry points.
“So there is no cause for alarm at all. The state is safe. People can come and do their businesses and go about their normal activities,” he said.
