Stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Okun land in Kogi State have met in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory to brainstorm on the formidable way of tackling rising cases of insecurity in the area.
The meeting was convened by the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd) and presided over by the former Director General of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Chief Lanre Ipinmisho and was attended by notable Okun sons and daughters such as Hon. Samuel Aro, Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole, Hon. Funsho Olumoko, Commissioners, House of Assembly members, Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants.
Others are, Executive Chairman of Ijumu, Kabba-Bunu, Mopamuron and Yagba East LGAs, Hon. Victor Omofaiye and Brigadier General Ipinyomi (rtd).
Apart from addressing security challenges, the meeting also focused on strategizing ahead of the next political dispensation, especially the need to unite and support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Security Adviser, while speaking at the meeting emphasized the need for all and sundry in Okun land to be united against issues of insecurity, saying it is not by political party or religious background.
According to him, “Recognizing that security is a collective responsibility, we have called upon residents, especially in rural communities, to actively support the State’s security architecture by volunteering credible intelligence.”
He explained that grassroots involvement is panacea to fighting security challenges, saying no meaningful progress can be made in this regard without credible local intelligence.
“This grassroots involvement is crucial in identifying and apprehending criminal elements. Without credible local intelligence, even the best-trained force will struggle. Your information saves lives!
“As leaders we need to discourage our youth to desist from being used as logistics for bandits and our women from being recruited as informants, the State Security Adviser added.
He further pointed out that “It is imperative that we, as a community, traditional rulers exercise caution and due diligence in indiscriminate selling of land to strangers, to prevent our ancestral lands from falling into the wrong hands.”
Commander Omodara noted that to further fight insecurity in Okun land, communities must have the first line of defense, increase local intelligence gathering, deploy resources to assist vigilantes/hunters, discourage youth from circulating on social media unconfirmed news and reports as well as separate security from politics.
He reaffirmed that the State government is deeply devoted to protecting the lives and property of its citizens, adding that more progress will be made in the coming weeks.
The Chairman of the meeting, Chief Lanre Ipinmisho applauded the Converner of the meeting for his foresight, saying the gathering was timely.
He announced the constitution of a Steering Committee to steer the visions of the Group towards actualising set goals and objectives.
On his part, Pro–Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council Federal University of Education, Pankshin, Plateau State, Hon. Funsho Olumoko stated that Okun Security should be more paramount to all sons and daughters of the Area, stressing the need to address hunger.
Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, Alh. Haruna Ibrahim, who spoke on behalf of the other 4 Council Chairmen, described the meeting as timely, urging the people of Okun land not to politicize issues of insecurity.
According to Alh. Haruna, the Local Government Chairmen of Okun extraction are brainstorming to meet from time to time aimed at sharing ideas in arresting the security challenges.
The meeting agreed to expand the stakeholders gathering beyond Political affiliations and meet regularly to provide ideas that will better improve the security situation.
