Special Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Youths and Sports, Mr. Kazeem Bolarinwa, yesterday, urged Oyo residents, particularly youths and women, to partner with the state government to fight and eradicate crime.

Bolarinwa said proactive measures, which Makinde put in place, following uprising in the last few months, had started to yield results.

He said peace that returned to Ibadan metropolis in recent times was linked to the measures put in place by the governor.

Bolarinwa, who is also the ECOWAS Youth Ambassador, appealed to youths to take advantage of the administration’s empowerment programmes, saying, such steps would not only add value to their lives, but would also reduce crime and other vices.

According to him: “I appeal to our youths to key into the government’s Youth Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness Project (YEAP). The initiative was aimed at engaging youths in agriculture, as well as businesses that relate to agricultural activities.”

He said government was embarking on a series of sensitisation programmes that were organised through different ministries and offices to tame hooliganism across the state, especially in Ibadan metropolis.

He said: “My office, in collaboration with the Office of Special Assistant to Governor on Community Matters, is doing a lot to educate youths on the danger inherent in taking hard drugs…”

“For now, with the presence of Amotekun corps and the current empowerment of the state police operatives and other security agencies, we are having rapid response to any breach of law and order in any part of the state. These are possible.”

He confirmed the government had trained over 6,000 graduates and professionals.