South-West governors have been urged to officially recognise local security groups in furtherance of efforts to combat insecurity in the region because local security setups have roles to play in putting an end to rising insecurity.
The call was made in Ibadan on Monday by a security expert, Ambassador Amos Olaniyan, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Crime Alert Security Network while speaking on ways of curbing security challenges in the society.
Ambassador Olaniyan observed that the current state of security in the South-West region is an indication that government security agencies could not fight the battle alone and consequently need the assistance of any local responsible security group.
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He explained that the local security groups have a better chance because they are closer to the grassroots and are more familiar with the terrain of interior communities, adding that groups like the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Agbekoya Hunters, Vigilante Group of Nigeria and others.
He stated that such groups could be useful in the fight against insecurity if they are carried along with government security agencies, adding that the contributions of local hunters in Maiduguri to the success of fight against Boko Haram.
According to him, local security groups in the South-West can perform better if allowed to operate, adding that he is optimistic that they would not act beyond their capacity. “These are the groups who are operating with the power of our forefathers, they have agreement and covenant within themselves which controls their operations, this covenant will control any of them who want to go astray.
“It is a shame that Yorubaland is witnessing this kind of insecurity with the quality safety measures our forefathers had put in place and practised before their death, the kind of power they used then to secure our land is still working, if employed, it will turn insecurity to things of past in South- West States,” Ambassador Olaniyan stated.
He further congratulated the Oodua People’s Congress on the successful installation of their new National Executive Officers, reiterating that with Aare Prince Osibote as the National President, Alhaji Abdul’salam Ambali as National Leader, Prince Odunayo Ogunmoye as the National Coordinator, Alhaji Lateef Lawal as General Secretary and Alhaji Mudashiu Adeniji as National Organising Officer, he is sure the association will move to greater heights.
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