Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has called for the establishment of a trans-regional security task force to curtail growing cross-border criminality.
He made the call when the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Valentine Okoro paid him a courtesy call in Osogbo on Tuesday.
Adeleke said the visit is very significant and an opportunity to strengthen the security strategy on the sustenance of the current peace and stability not just in Osun but in the region.
“I call for the establishment of a regional task force to track and curb cross-border criminality in the southwest and other areas under his Command.
“With a symbiotic working relationship between the state government and the military, I assure the military team that Osun is the home of hospitality where no one is discriminated against based on tribe, ethnicity or religion,2 he said.
The governor lauded the Commander of Engineering Construction Regiment, Ede Army Barracks, Brigadier General Sulaimon, for a good job in securing the state.
Adeleke revealed that the awareness of the military barracks in Ede is enough deterrent to criminals who might be scouting for a place to perpetuate their criminal activities.
General Okoro, while lauding the governor for creating a safe and secure environment for residents to live and conduct lawful businesses, added that he was in Osun as part of efforts to familiarise himself with the operational procedures in states under his Command.
He described Osun State as lucky with the presence of the Engineering Construction Command, Ede, which is full of all sorts of Army engineers, specialists and combatants that contribute to the State’s security architecture.
He appreciated the government and people of Osun for creating a stable and secure environment.
“I appeal for more collaboration between the security agencies and the people not just to secure but to sustain the stable environment but to improve on it by volunteering relevant and genuine information to the Nigerian Army because it is a people-centric organisation,” Gen Okoro added.