The Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, has called on President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s security agencies to intensify the fight against criminality, stating that “we cannot rest until the battle against insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, and other forms of criminality is totally won.”
The first-class monarch made this plea at his palace in Akure, Ondo State, during a visit from the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of the South West, DIG Fayoade Mustapha.
Oba Aladelusi specifically appealed for the immediate and safe rescue of the students and teachers recently kidnapped in Oyo State, noting the severe emotional and mental trauma the victims are facing.
The monarch raised concerns that the worsening nationwide security crisis has gradually crept into various parts of the South West region.
“You can imagine the emotional and mental stress these children and their teachers are subjected to.
“This is a sad scenario that calls for urgent and proactive action,” Oba Aladelusi said.
While acknowledging the efforts of the security forces, the Deji urged the police hierarchy to prioritize the welfare of its officers to boost morale and enhance operational effectiveness.
He stressed that proactive security measures are urgently required and that security agencies must not relent until total victory over criminal elements is achieved
“We cannot rest until the battle against insurgency, kidnapping, banditry and other forms of criminality is totally won,” he said.
The Deji thanked DIG Mustapha for the visit and urged him to ensure police welfare is adequately prioritized to boost officers’ morale.
Earlier, DIG Mustapha commended Oba Aladelusi for supporting the police through crime prevention and effective community policing.
He said traditional rulers have a pivotal role to play in crime control and assured the monarch that the police are leaving no stone unturned to secure the safe and timely return of all the Oyo kidnapped victims.
In another development, top officers of the Ondo State Police Command, led by tactical commanders and operatives, conducted an extensive operational sweep of Ilu-Abo Forest and adjoining communities.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, said “the operation was part of a sustained offensive against kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes.
“It involved combing identified flashpoints, forest corridors and suspected criminal enclaves believed to serve as hideouts.
“Several suspected hideouts were located and dismantled.
“Makeshift camps and structures believed to have been used for criminal activities were destroyed, while operatives conducted intensive searches of the surrounding forest to prevent the re-establishment of such camps,” Abayomi said.
He said the exercise aimed to disrupt criminal networks, deny criminals freedom of movement, and reinforce residents’ confidence in the state’s security architecture.
The police image maker reiterated the command’s commitment to proactive, intelligence-driven policing, stressing that forests and remote locations in the state would not be allowed to serve as sanctuaries for kidnappers and other criminals.
Abayomi assured law-abiding residents that the command would sustain aggressive operations across all identified criminal hotspots until all threats are effectively neutralized.
“The Ondo State Police Command remains resolute in its determination to protect lives and property,” he said.
He urged the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to keep the state safe.
