The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed A. Adamu, on Monday met with the South West governors, traditional rulers among other stakeholders to discussed on the issues and strategies to adopt in tackling the security challenges in the region.

The meeting which was held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan tagged “Southwest Geopolitical Zone Security Summit” was convened by the Inspector-General of Police to unveil his security agenda for the region and to discuss issues and strategies to be adopted in addressing the security challenges in the geopolitical zone.

In his speech, Adamu said “This meeting is being convened within the context of our Community Policing Vision which emphasizes citizens’ engagement in the process of identifying, dissecting and prioritizing threats to communal values, partnering to develop strategies to address the threats, and building trust to undertake actions directed at mitigating them”.

“The security situation across the country has been stabilized. However, there are isolated cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in the South West, particularly, along Benin-Ore-Lagos Highway and across Ondo State”.

“We must as a strategy, strengthen partnership among ourselves as a community on one hand, and between the communities and the police on the other hand. The strength of this partnership and the commitment of all actors within the process will undoubtedly, influence the extent of success we can record against the criminals” Adamu said.

Adamu further stated that “On our part, I can assure of our determination to continue to maximally deploy all our resources and unique capabilities towards mitigating crimes and addressing fear of crime across the South West”.

The Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi ably represented by his deputy, Otunba Adebisi Egbeyemi said “The south west leaders have met, and we have agreed on what to do. Security is very important, without good security, we are not safe. Our children in abroad are afraid of coming home, that is why we should all join hands together to make sure that we stop all these problems. The Oba’s and the vigilante groups are ready to cooperate with us to make sure that we don’t allow these vagabonds to remain within us”.

Osun State Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola while making emphasizes on the issue of recruitment of more policemen, “The number of policemen we have is not sufficient to take care of the entire country. The Nigeria Police Force should recruit for the local communities, train them and return them to those communities because they will understand the terrain which criminals hides more than outsiders;

“All of us have spoken and I know we have a big plan to confront the issue of security challenges in our region. We need the collaboration of the police, other security agencies to keep our region safe. At our level, we will continue to champion the security of lives and properties of our citizens as more efforts would be speared in maintaining the country” Oyetola said.

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun ably represented by his deputy, Mrs. Naimot Salako Oyedele said “We thank the IGP for the community policing initiative. As we all know, we should be our brother’s keeper and with the introduction of the community policing, I believed Nigeria would be safe for all of us. We look forward to the ‘Safer Highway’ Motorised Patrol Scheme as well as the ‘Safer City’ Scheme from the Nigeria Police Force to better the insecurity challenges we are being faced in the region”.

“We must deplore technology massively in the country. We will never get enough police because no nation has enough police but with technology, we can enhance the functions of the police. Aerostats should be deployed across the nation to prevent crime” the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Obafemi Hamzat who represented his boss, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said.

The host, Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde said “the recent deteriorating state of security in the South-West and the country at large, prompted the security summit of June 25th in Ibadan. It was a consensus decision that measures should be put in place to address insecurity in the zone.

Makinde stated further “In furtherance of this noble and lofty ideas, a holistic framework for security of the South-West is being put up by the DAWN Commission. In Oyo State, in the next few days, we shall unveil a security roadmap, focused on improvement of security infrastructure”.

The Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11 said “I really appreciate the efforts and commitments of the IGP for this Summit. The IGP has made this promise of tackling the insecurity challenges in Nigeria at a meeting with the president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja of which I was there, and now, this step shows the Nigeria Police Force is truly serious to curb the insecurity threats in the country”.

“I urged the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force to continue doing more in tackling the insecurity challenges in the country to ensure the safety of lives and properties of the citizens in the region and Nigeria at large” Oni of Ife said.

In his own statement, Oba of Lagos, Babatunde Rilwan Akinolu said “All these problems started from the past regime when the Nigeria Police Force was being underfunded and what we need now is community policing instead of State Police”.

Akinolu stated further that “I will request the governor of Oyo State to set up a committee to be headed by the DIG Taiwo Lakanu to include Gani Adams, Yinka Odumakin and others to report to me in my palace for hints on security challenges as the challenges we are having in the South West will become a thing of the past soon”.

The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo commended the IGP for the initiative towards tackling the insecurity challenges in the South West, while he advised the South West governors to enhance mutual relationship with the traditional rulers of the region for a positive result in providing solutions to the insecurity challenges in the region and Nigeria.

Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan also commended the IGP for the initiative and suggested the security summit should be holding in the South West region at least twice in a year to always discuss the issue of insecurity challenges that has been a major threats to the development of the country.

Also, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Ganiyu Adams pledged his assurance that he will complement the efforts of the IGP, South-West governors and traditional rulers to fight against insecurity challenges in the Yorubaland.

The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Debo Ogundoyin said “Security as we all know is the most important aspect of good governance, without security in any nation, all other sectors will crumble and cannot stand be it education, businesses, health sector among others. In Oyo state, we are working on policies that would help keep our people safe, policy of the open grazing law which the bill is still on the second reading and others for the betterment of our people.

The Speaker, however advised the government to encourage more youths in governance in Nigeria.