The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone XI headquarters, Osogbo, Bassey S. Ewah, has urged traditional rulers’ representatives and Hausa community leaders in Osun State to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to prevent kidnapping, banditry and other crimes.
Ewah made the call on Tuesday during a security engagement with representatives of traditional rulers and Hausa community leaders, including Serikis, from Ifewara, Ibodi and Iwoye-Ijesa.
The meeting was aimed at strengthening police-community relations, improving intelligence sharing and preventing criminal elements from infiltrating communities in Osun State.
The AIG expressed concern over the difficulty of establishing the identities and backgrounds of some residents, warning that the situation could create security vulnerabilities if not properly addressed.
He said recent security incidents, including the abduction of teachers in Orire Local Government Area of neighbouring Oyo State, highlighted the need for proactive measures to prevent similar occurrences in other communities.
“Security challenges must be addressed through collective responsibility, credible intelligence and prompt action by relevant security agencies,” Ewah said.
He urged community leaders to work closely with the police by providing timely, credible and actionable information that could help security agencies identify potential threats and prevent criminal activities before they escalated.
The police chief also assured community representatives that the identities of informants would be treated with the utmost confidentiality and protected in accordance with established procedures.
Ewah reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to remaining accessible and responsive to residents’ security needs, assuring the representatives that police formations would be available to receive information and respond to security concerns at any time.
He encouraged community leaders to maintain regular communication with police formations in their respective areas and promptly report suspicious movements or activities.
Reiterating the need for cooperation, the AIG said, “The protection of lives and property remains a shared responsibility.”
He urged residents of Osun and Oyo states to cooperate with security agencies to safeguard their communities.
Those present included Chief Adubi Idowu and Chief Adejoro Adewale, representing Iwoye-Ijesa, alongside Alhaji Haruna Tanko, Alhaji Abdullahi Waliyi, Alhaji Abubakar Sahabi, Alhaji Mubarak Ayuba, Alhaji Abdul Rosheed Usman and Alhaji Zayaruwa Saraki, representing Hausa communities in Ibodi and Ifewara.
In their separate remarks, the representatives expressed appreciation for the reception accorded them by the AIG and welcomed him to Zone XI.
They commended the initiative to engage community leaders on security matters and pledged to support intelligence gathering, promote peaceful coexistence and encourage residents to report credible security information to the Police.
Kidnapping: AIG Ewah urges Osun communities to report suspicious movements