…Promise stronger community patrols
By Our Reporter
In a bid to stem the tide of kidnapping and communal unrest in Ondo State’s Ose Local Government Area, the state Police Command on Friday held a security stakeholders’ meeting in Ifon, pledging to intensify grassroots policing and forge a renewed alliance with the local populace.
The meeting, which took place at Caring Heart Mega Primary School, was chaired by the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, who said the initiative was prompted by the worsening state of insecurity in the area.
Addressing residents, traditional leaders, and representatives of security agencies including the Nigerian Army, Afolabi said the command was committed to rebuilding trust and restoring confidence in law enforcement.
The police boss acknowledged the concerns raised by community members over recurring incidents of abduction and violent clashes, and assured them of an expanded security presence.
He disclosed that police patrols would now reach previously inaccessible areas with the help of motorcycles recently donated by the community.
“We will penetrate the hinterlands and ensure that no part of this local government is left vulnerable,” he said.
Afolabi stressed the importance of timely intelligence, urging residents to share credible information, which he said would be treated with strict confidentiality.
“The people must understand that security is a collective responsibility. We cannot succeed without your cooperation,” he added.
To that end, he shared his personal contact number with those present and promised swift response to actionable intelligence.
In response to community demands, the Commissioner ordered the immediate arrest of those responsible for the burning of WAEC examination materials.
He condemned the act, describing it as a criminal offence that had jeopardised the academic future of students sitting for Chemistry and Literature papers.
Residents also pledged to assist in uncovering the killers of the late Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adegoke Adeusi, who was gunned down by suspected bandits on November 26, 2020 while returning from Akure.
“We are ready to support the police to get to the root of the murder,” a community spokesperson said during the meeting.
Concerns were also raised about the need for greater security presence at flashpoints such as Molege and Ute junctions, areas believed to be used by kidnappers who operate from nearby forest reserves.
Residents called for new police posts in remote villages, the creation of a Police Area Command in Ifon, and the immediate activation of the Divisional Police Station in Okeluse.
The absence of traditional rulers in some communities was also identified as a factor contributing to instability.
Community leaders appealed to the state government to expedite the installation of new monarchs in affected areas, noting that leadership vacuums have often fuelled disorder.
It was agreed during the meeting that the leadership of vigilante groups and other community security outfits would liaise with the Police Command to initiate the issuance of identity cards to their members in a bid to curb impersonation and tighten internal controls.
Speaking to journalists afterwards, Afolabi said the engagement was a deliberate step towards repairing the strained relationship between the police and the public.
“We came here to rebuild trust. The conversation was frank and honest, and I believe we’ve taken a crucial step forward,” he said.
Chairman of Ifon Local Government, Clement Ojo, hailed the meeting as a timely and strategic intervention, commending Afolabi for implementing the Community Safety Partnership Initiative, a model he said had been effective in addressing similar issues across the state since the Commissioner assumed office.
Following the meeting, the Police Commissioner visited several identified flashpoints, including a renovated police station previously attacked by hoodlums and a newly built facility provided to support law enforcement operations in one of the communities.
The event drew participants from all corners of the local government area and marked what many residents described as a “new beginning” in the fight against insecurity in Ifon and its environs.
