Insecurity: Police promise to intensify Grassroots Policing in Ondo
Ondo State Police Command has vowed to intensify grassroot policin in its edforts to curb kidnapping and communal clash in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area of the state.
Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, who spoke at a stakeholders meeting in Ifon said the meeting was due to incessant kidnap incidents and communal clashes in the locality.
Afolabi spoke after he listened to complaints of residents who came from different communities.
He said motorcycles donated by the community would enabled patrol of interior areas which are not motorable.
The Ondo CP called on residents to give vital information to help security agencies tackle crimes.
He said the police would work with vigilante and hunters in the communities as well as intensify synergy among all security agencies in the state, including the Army.
In a chat with journalist, the CP said, “We came up with this initiative because I discovered that the mutual relationship between the police and the people is at lowest ebb.
“So, we organised the meeting to ensure we build mutual trust between the police and the people.
“With the kind of frank talks we had today, I believe mutual trust would surely improve.”
“I have given directive to apprehend those behind the burning of WAEC examination papers. Their action had undermined the future of all students taking Chemistry and Literature.
The people volunteered to assist the police in unraveling the killing of the Olufon of Ifon, the late Oba Israel Adegoke Adenusi.
The monarch was killed by suspected bandits on November 26, 2020 at the outskirt of Ifon while returning from Akure, the state capital.
The people said: “We are ready to support the police in going to the root of the killing of Olufon of Ifon.”
It was discussed and agreed at the meeting that the leadership of the community security groups, including Vigilante Group, should liaise with the Commissioner of Police to fashion out how Identity card would be issued to its members to check impersonation.
The Chairman, Ifon Local Government, Clement Ojo described the stakeholders meeting as apt and a welcome strategy to solving security issues in the local government area.
He commended the Commissioner of Police for coming up with the Community Safety Partnership Initiative, which he has been applying to resolve communal clashes and stem crimes in different parts of the state since he assumed office as the 45th Commissioner of Police in the state.
Earlier, some of the community leaders and residents, among who are Elder Batowa from Ikaro, Okon, a High Chief of Ijapgba, Jimoh, the youth leader of Ijagba, Tokunbo Abayomi, demanded police checkpoints at Molege junction, Ute junction because kidnappers operate in the areas and used Ute/Owo forest reserve and other forest reserves in the area as hideouts.
They also solicited for police post at some of the communities, Police Area Command in Ifon and commencement of the approved Divisional Police Station at Okeluse.
Questions were asked on the findings made so far on the killing of the late Olufon of Ifon, as well as investigation into the burning of WAEC examination papers by some hoodlums.
The people also urged the state government to, as a matter of urgency, ensure installation of traditional rulers in communities that have lost their monarchs.
They disclosed that the absence of traditional head to coordinate the people often contributed to some of the insecurity incidents in the affected communities.
However, after the meeting, the Commissioner of Police visited some of the identified flash points, the renovated police station torched by some miscreants and a new facility provided for police in some of the communities.
The meeting was held at Caring Heart Mega Primary School, Ifon, with other security agencies, including the Army, represented.
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