Oyo State Government Vows To Deal With Banditry, Illegal Mining

The Government of Oyo State has vowed to deal with banditry, illegal mining and other security threats across the state.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Fatai Owoseni, made this known on Thursday, in Ibadan, after a Security Council meeting, presided by Governor Seyi Makinde.

Owoseni, while addressing reporters said the meeting was an initiative to holistically appraise the security situation of the state, through feedbacks from all cadres of leadership in the state.

He therefore warned all illegal miners, bandits, illegal migrants, cultists and other criminals to vacate the state.

According to him, the government is determined to deal decisively with all criminal minded individuals operating in any part of the state.

He urged residents to take security issues seriously, assuring them of prompt response to security concerns, just as he called on residents to make use of the toll free ‘615’ security number, in case of any emergency.

Intimating reporters on the outcome of the meeting, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Johnson Adenola, said the council resolved that there would not be “stereotyping of people and criminality in the state”.

“Every Nigerian has a right to reside peacefully in their preferred part of the country,” Adenola said.

He disclosed that the council asked all miners to obtain licences, if they want to operate in the state.

The commissioner said government would be looking at the boundary disputes, with a view to put an end to them.

“Also government will convene a meeting to address all pending boundary issues after Ramadan,” he said.

9News Nigeria reports that members of the state executive council, security chiefs, traditional leaders and all the 33 local government chairmen, attended the meeting.