Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has read the riot act to land grabbers, illegal miners and some monarchs said to be aiding their operations, insisting that his government would deal decisively with anyone found guilty of abetting crime.
Makinde, who dangled the axe at a security interactive meeting with traditional rulers, service commanders, local government chairmen and vice chairmen, held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, said the output of the co-operation in the state has made it attractive to investors.
He called for more cooperation and collaboration among security agencies, governments and the traditional institutions in the state, maintaining that such cooperation has helped to improve the security situation of the state.
The governor said his administration would continue to provide necessary support and encouragement to the security agencies so that they can keep the state safe during the yuletide and beyond.
He equally warned illegal miners in the state, whose operations were as dangerous as that of the land grabbers to desist from the act.
Makinde noted that it was unlawful for any individual or group to forcefully take over landed property or engage in illegal mining operations, saying the state would nip the problem in the bud by dealing decisively with those found culpable in the acts.
He said: “Let me welcome every one of us to this interactive session. I want to thank our service commanders and traditional rulers. Your co-operation has brought Oyo State to the point where the rest of the country is asking us how we are stable security-wise while the rest of the country seems to be getting it wrong.
“We have noticed that the co-operation between the agencies have tremendously improved and we really want to keep it that way not only for the Christmas season but even into the New Year. And we, as a government, will do everything possible to provide the necessary encouragement and support.”
Earlier, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, commended the Governor Makinde-led administration for handling the security of the state quite well.
