Makinde chairs task force to tackle insecurity, solicits monarchs, others’ support

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, yesterday, inaugurated a state security task force to be chaired by himself as part of measures to address security challenges facing the state.

The 11-man task force includes Chief of Staff to the Governor, Bisi Ilaka; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Bayo Lawal; Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatunbosun; Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Adeniyi Farinto; Commissioner for Special Duties, Funmilayo Orisadeyi.

Other members of the committee are Special Adviser on Security, Fatai Owoseni; Executive Assistant on Security, Sunday Odukoya; Director-General, Operation Burst, Oladipo Ajibola; Oyo Amotekun Director-General, Kunle Togun and Director of Security in the office of Head of Service to serve as Secretary.

At the inauguration held at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, Makinde said that the task force was set up as a matter of emergency to address the various security challenges and ensure the state is always on top of security situations.

He said that with recurring incidences of kidnappings, especially of school students in the North, the state had to be on its toes security-wise to prevent such kidnappings and tackle all forms of criminalities.

He added that the committee would regularly link with traditional rulers, stakeholders across all local councils, political stakeholders, and different ethnic nationalities to have requisite information on happenings across the localities.

The governor, who said the state government needed to be on top of the security situations on a daily basis, added that emergency meetings could be called any time the need arose.

“We also can call an emergency meeting anytime, depending on the security situation. The members have been carefully selected. The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters is supposed to be our link with traditional institutions and stakeholders at the local council levels,” he said.

He, therefore, solicited the support of all and sundry for the success of the task force.