Following the recent escalation of insecurity in Ondo State, security agencies in the state on Monday embarked on a show of force in Akure, warning criminals to stay away from the state.
Agencies involved in the show of force include the police, army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and Department of State Security, DSS, as well as the Ondo State Security Network Agency, otherwise known as the Amotekun Corps.
With the operation led by the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, Amotekun Commander, Adetunji Adeleye and Commanding Officer of 323 Artillery Brigade, the security chiefs in the state stated that the show of force will send a signal to criminals that there will not be room for them to operate in the state.
While stressing that the joint operation of the security agencies will be carried out within the towns of the state, the Amotekun commander maintained that forests within the state will also be combed.
According to Adeleye, the Amotekun corps, alongside other sister security agencies in the state, will ensure that kidnapping as well as other crimes in the state are eliminated.
He said, “We are doing bush combing and scrutinising the nooks and crannies of the state. It is going to be a continuous exercise, and we will go around everywhere to ensure that the state remains safe as usual and that all forms of criminality are stamped out as much as possible.”
On his part, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, stated, “We are just implementing a coordinated joint show of force among the security agencies, the military, the police, civil defence, and the DSS to show the good people of Ondo State that we have occupied the space.
“You will recall that recently we have been in the 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 Salah too, to show them that we are really on track.”
Security agencies stage show of force in Ondo amid rising insecurity
