BY : RAJI AYOOLA, Ibadan
The Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, launched the 100 security patrol vehicles his government earlier purchased to enhance security operations in the State.
Governor Makinde, who equally launched the State’s Security Code 615, declared that the welfare of security officials would be the top priority of his administration.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the Governor as making the declaration at a brief event to mark the distribution of the 100 Kia Rio units to security agencies in the state.
According to the Governor, with the launch of the sophisticated gadgets and communication tools in the vehicles, criminals would have no place to hide in the state.
The statement further added that the government of Oyo State was bent on keeping the State safe, so as to ensure that those who come to do business in the state can sleep with two eyes closed.
The Governor described the launching of the vehicles as a milestone in the State, adding that the welfare of security officers will be given top priority.
He maintained that criminal elements in the State were in for a tough time, because the security agencies now have Oyo State covered in terms of communication equipment and other gadgets.
He equally tasked security officers to be ready and up to the task to combat crimes in the State.
He said: “This administration is resting on four pillars and one of the pillars is security. We want people to come into Oyo State and feel secure. We want them to come in here, sleep with their two eyes closed.
“In furtherance of our administration’s vision for a safe Oyo State, we are here to launch these security patrol vehicles. The men are ready. They are no-nonsense officers and men. So, criminals are now in for it in Oyo State, if they ever try to come in here, I believe we are up to the task.
“I thank our service commanders for their cooperation for contributing the officers and men that will carry out this task to secure Oyo State for us. We have Oyo State covered in terms of communication, which is a new one. It means that no matter where in Oyo State, we will get criminals. I can’t wait to see officers chase criminals down the streets with the siren blaring because they now have everything that is required of them to do their job.
“I can assure the officers that their welfare will be the top priority for us. So, on this note, we will give the vehicles out and start looking at how the criminal elements will ‘pick race’ from Oyo State.”
Earlier, the Special Adviser on Security to the Governor and Executive Secretary, Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSSTF), Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni (rtd), maintained that security patrol vehicles being launched had been equipped with state-of-the-art security equipment.
He added that Governor Makinde had also approved the upgrade of communication equipment of the police to be able to reach the hinterlands of the State.
Owoseni said: “One of the cardinal pillars of Governor Makinde’s administration is security and, in furtherance, it is your commitment that the security operation of Oyo State will be improved. Consequently, when you marked your 100 days in office, 100 motor vehicles were procured, among other things, to bridge the security infrastructure gap of the security agencies in Oyo State. In addition to that, some security equipment were procured, because, without the equipment, the vehicles won’t be useful.
“Also, the Governor has kindly approved that communication gadgets should be installed in those vehicles including the upgrading of the communication infrastructure of the Nigerian Police in the State to enable us to reach as far as Saki and our border areas, which the State did not have before. We are here today, Your Excellency, with all the enablement you have provided, including the light-up project that the State has kick-started, which also has an impact on security.
“The vehicles are ready for the operatives who will man them to be deployed to identify key areas in the whole of Oyo State.”
