The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Friday, donated 50 patrol vehicles to all the security agencies in the state as part of the commitment of his administration to further strengthen the security of lives and property of the people in the state.
Akeredolu declared that criminals would be smoked out of the nooks and crannies of the state.
He handed the vehicles to the heads of the security agencies in the state including the Army; Navy, the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Department of the State Services, and the Amotekun Corps, at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital, on Friday.
Speaking, the governor said, handing over of additional 50 vehicles was a further demonstration of the commitment of his administration towards providing the needed support for all security agencies operating in the state.
He said, “We still recall with trepidation the dastardly act of last month when some daredevil terrorists who have lost their souls to the devil launched an attack at the St. Francis Catholic Church in the ancient city of Owo.
“One of my promises then to the people of Ondo State was to do everything humanly possible to strengthen the capacity of our security agencies to be able to anticipate, prevent and combat a recurrence of such man’s inhumanity to mankind.
“Today, it gives me great delight to commission and hand over additional security equipment particularly fitted patrol vehicles, to security agencies operating in the state towards boosting the capacity of our men in the line of duty of crime fighting so that our people can go about their businesses and livelihood without fear of molestation or attack.
“In doing this, the agencies would be better equipped and strengthened to carry out their constitutional duties of protecting lives and property and combating acts of criminality in our dear state.
“Let me emphasise that procurement and distribution of vehicles to security agencies have been a recurring exercise in our state since we came on board. We have done this for the umpteenth time. As a government, we are aware of the inadequacies of our security agencies and we are prepared, more than ever, to be supportive because it borders on the lives of our people who voted us into office.
“I wish to reassure the good people of Ondo State of our avowed commitment to the constitutional responsibility of every government which is the security of lives, property and welfare of the people as enshrined in Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended). This will remain our topmost priority.”
In his remarks, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, commended the governor for his efforts at securing the lives and property of the people.
He also called for the establishment of state police and better empowerment for the Amotekun Corps to be able to bear arms so as to complement the efforts of the security agencies in fighting crimes.
