By Omowumi Omotosho
The Kwara State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner Victor Olaiya, recently organized a strategic security gathering at the Police Officers Mess in GRA, Ilorin. This high-level meeting aimed to bolster the state’s security framework by bringing together key stakeholders from across Kwara.
Present at the meeting were representatives from all 16 local government areas, including local government chairpersons, traditional leaders, and heads of vigilante and hunter groups. Also in attendance was the Senior Special Assistant on Security to the Governor of Kwara State. The purpose of the discussion was to address ongoing security challenges and strengthen coordination across the state.
Commissioner Olaiya, during his address, spoke about the recurring criminal activities affecting parts of Kwara. He emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between various local security units, including the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), local hunters, and associations like Miyetti Allah and Gaa Allah. He underscored the importance of a unified approach to combatting crime and protecting local communities.
Olaiya also called on security personnel to maintain integrity and vigilance in their duties, cautioning against any complicity or cooperation with criminal elements, such as kidnappers, that could compromise their communities’ safety.
In addition, he urged local government leaders to take a more active role in enhancing security efforts in their respective areas. He stressed the importance of a thorough recruitment process for those joining local security teams to ensure the effectiveness and reliability of their operations.
“Background checks should be performed to ensure that new recruits have no criminal history. Once this careful selection process is completed, the Kwara State Police Command will organise specialised training sessions to better equip the recruits to carry out their duties effectively,” he emphasized
During the strategic meeting, representatives from each of Kwara’s 16 local government areas had the opportunity to voice their security concerns and share their on-the-ground experiences. In response, the state’s police commissioner addressed several pressing issues raised by the participants, assuring them that their challenges would be thoroughly reviewed and promptly addressed.
Speaking on behalf of the state government, Alhaji Muyideen Aliyu, the Senior Special Assistant on Security to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, emphasized the governor’s ongoing efforts to improve security throughout Kwara State. He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity and mentioned that additional measures were being developed to further protect the state’s residents.
Aliyu also announced that the state government had approved a standardized uniform for all local security personnel, signifying a unified and coordinated effort in the fight against criminal activities.
In a statement released in Ilorin on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, DSP Ejire Adeyemi Toun, highlighted the significance of the meeting. She noted that the gathering was an important step toward strengthening the partnership between local security outfits and the police in the collective effort to combat crimes such as kidnapping and other criminal activities across Kwara.
“This strategic meeting marks a significant step toward fostering collaboration between traditional security groups and the police
in the ongoing fight against kidnapping and other criminal activities in Kwara State,” she stated.
