The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for the establishment of a trans-regional security task force to curb increasing cross-border criminality in southwest.
Governor Adeleke made the call when the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Valentine Okoro paid him a courtesy visit in Osogbo on Tuesday.
The Governor stressed that the visit is very crucial, just as he said it was an opportunity to strengthen the security strategy on the sustenance of the current peace and stability not just in Osun but in the region.
“I call for the establishment of a regional task force to track and curb cross-border criminality in the southwest and other areas under his Command.
“With a symbiotic working relationship between the state government and the military, I assure the military team that Osun is the home of hospitality where no one is discriminated against based on tribe, ethnicity or religion,2 he said.
Adeleke commended the Commander of Engineering Construction Regiment, Ede Army Barracks, Brigadier General Sulaimon, for a good job in securing the state.
Governor Adeleke pointed out that the awareness of the military barracks in Ede is enough to create fear for the criminals who might be scouting for a place to carry out their criminal activities.
Reacting, General Okoro commended the governor for creating a safe and secure environment for residents to live and conduct lawful businesses, saying that he was in Osun as part of efforts to familiarise himself with the operational procedures in states under his Command.
He noted that Osun State is lucky with the presence of the Engineering Construction Command, Ede, which is full of all sorts of Army engineers, specialists and combatants that contribute to the State’s security architecture, thanking the government and people of Osun for creating a stable and secure environment.
“I appeal for more collaboration between the security agencies and the people not just to secure but to sustain the stable environment but to improve on it by volunteering relevant and genuine information to the Nigerian Army because it is a people-centric organisation,” Gen Okoro added.
