Oyo Govt urges residents to expose criminals within their area

THE Oyo State Government has urged residents of the state not to cover up for suspected criminals in their communities but rather expose such people in their environments in order to complement and sustain government’s efforts at making the state a safer haven for all and sundry.

The Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSTFF), Mr Femi Oyedipe, made this plea at the weekend, explaining that the state government in conjunction with security agencies within the state is working round the clock to arrest the pockets of armed robbery incidents in some areas.

“The government and security agencies cannot do the task of protecting our community alone. We need the support of the people of the state. We cannot be in all the nooks and crannies of Oyo State at the same time and this is why we need the support of our people. We want them to collaborate with us to expose criminals in their domains and we guarantee the protection of their identities as we have been doing,” he said

Oyedipe called on residents to take advantage of the control and emergency numbers regularly released by the police for feedback, noting that the OYSSTF will also release its communication room details being set up to complement the control room of the police to the general public soon.

He further assured that the identity of informants will be protected, warning that government and security agencies will not treat with kid gloves anyone who wants to mislead them or whoever stands in the way of justice.

He revealed that the repositioned state’s crime-fighting outfit, Operation Burst, will be launched in a matter of days to increase and improve crime-fighting potency and smoke out evil doers from the state.

According to him the unique collaborative efforts of all the security agencies and stakeholders in the state have given the state an unprecedented orderly and peaceful environment in the last six years.

“Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s name is synonymous with peace and he has been able to bar brigandage and thuggery from the state. However, we still have pockets of crimes which we are working round the clock to curtail. That is why we must involve communities in security and policing efforts.

“We know it looks unachievable to have 100% crime free society but we are doing everything humanly possible to achieve this goal. We will not relent in our security measures which have positioned the state as a safe haven for investors and at the same time support the industrial revolution going on in the state,” Oyedipe stated.

Oyedipe assured that OYSSTF will continue to support security agencies in the state to ensure peace and tranquility through the provision of patrol vehicles, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), Bullet Proof Vests, Ballistic Helmets, Shock Baton, Pepper Spray, Rubber Bullets, talkie communication gadgets among others.