The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has directed urgent reorganisation of the security architecture on highways in response to the Commissioners of Police in charge of the Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo state commands’ briefings on the security situation on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement obtained by our correspondents on Tuesday, said this would ensure the proper deployment of officers and resources to protect lives and property along the expressway and prevent kidnappings.
Adejobi’s statement noted, “The IG pledges adequate operational support in form of technology-based and tactical operational assets for the CPs in charge of Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo and heads of tactical operational units in the area to combat the current trend of crimes and criminality on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
“In the same vein, Baba has called on well-meaning Nigerians, particularly road users, hunters, community leaders, and other stakeholders who ply the route to constantly expose known criminals who terrorise innocent Nigerians along the route.”
Reacting, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Gani Adams, said South-West security stakeholders were ready to work with the police in flushing out kidnappers from the forest in two weeks.
Adams said, “What the IG said is a welcome development because all over the world, it is not only government security agencies that tackle insecurity in their country.
“I am sure if they allow us to work together on that road, within two to three weeks, the issue of insecurity will be a thing of the past.
“We have a security collation, consisting of the VGN, Agbekoya, hunters, OPC, isokan Yoruba. We are 11 different groups that came together and we have structures in all local government areas in Yoruba race.”
Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of one of the communities along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway said local security operatives are combing the forest in pursuit of the kidnappers.
The Olu of Ogunmakin, Oba Olugbenga Sodiya, revealed that operatives of VGN, OPC, hunters and PCRC members were on a 24-hour surveillance of the road.
