Ogun geographical location poses security challenges – Gov Abiodun

He made this statement while opening the fourth quarter of the State Directors of Security (SDSes) Conference, South West Zone, held at the Mitros Hall, Abeokuta, on Thursday.

Governor Abiodun urged the senior officials of the security operatives to work out a modus operandi to nip in the bud all security issues confronting the state in particular and the zone in general.

He explained that there is migration of people from Oyo and Lagos States to Ogun, and most especially, from the Republic of Benin.

Abiodun said, “The Southwest states have the challenges of migration from across borders, from the north to the south.

“We have issues that relate to the fact that we have lots of student population in this region as well.

“Ogun State has the highest number of tertiary institutions. Being close to Lagos, anything that happens in Lagos, we will feel the impacts.

“People that are travelling from Lagos to the rest of the country all pass through Ogun, Oyo states, and at times Osun state before going to the other parts of the country.

“This geographical location poses a peculiar challenge to us, and these challenges are what you as state security service must be up and doing and rise up to.”

The Director of Security, Ogun State Command, Folasade Adekaiyaoja, assured the governor of a safe and more secured Ogun state.

She also assured that the Department would continue to work in synergy with other security agencies in order to combat insecurity in the state effectively.

“I assure you, Your Excellency, sir, of our renewed commitment to ensure a safe and secured Ogun state. As the country prepares to celebrate the end of the year and transition to 2024, we are aware that our work remains important to ensure that our citizens can go about their work and remain safe during this period,” she added.

She pledged that the Department would tackle the kidnapping cases being experienced on the corridor of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, with the experience and expertise gathered from its relationship with other sister agencies.

Adekaiyaoja said, “Our zone has been mapped with kidnapping along the major highway, and because we have worked hard in managing banditry, drug peddling, economic and financial crime, and serving as a landline of defense. We have benefited from working together and drawing from the expertise and experience of our collective membership from identifying with collaboration with sister agencies, and this has helped us in preferring solutions.”