By Adeola Badru
Yoruba nation agitator and founder of Iru Ekun Security Network, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has called for a stronger national alliance between community-based security outfits and conventional security agencies to combat kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes threatening communities across Nigeria.
Igboho said closer cooperation among security stakeholders was essential to protecting lives and property, sharing intelligence and strengthening efforts to tackle criminal activities, particularly in the South-West.
He made the call while commending the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and other heads of security agencies for their support for Iru Ekun, which he said had contributed to the network’s reported efforts to address abduction, banditry and farmer-herder clashes.
The call was contained in a statement issued by his media office on Saturday following a strategic meeting between the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, and the FCT coordinator of Iru Ekun, Segun Olufadeju, popularly known as Aluwaye, and members of his team in Abuja.
According to the statement, the engagement was aimed at strengthening cooperation between the police and the security network in tackling criminality and promoting public safety.
“The meeting with FCT CP, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, is part of our commitment to work with the Police and also show gratitude for their major support, which had been responsible for the success we have recorded in reducing rampant cases of abduction, banditry and farmers-herders clashes,” Igboho was quoted as saying.
He added: “We are always ready to partner relevant stakeholders in the security sector in further driving peace, protecting communities against hoodlums and other criminals posing threat to our people, most especially law-abiding Nigerians in the South-West.”
Igboho also acknowledged the support of the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd); the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu; the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi; and other heads of security agencies.
“The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, IGP Tunji Disu, the Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, and other heads of security agencies have all been supportive and instrumental to our operational achievements.”
“We will continue to leverage on this healthy collaboration for the overall interest of Nigeria,” he said.
At the meeting, Sanusi urged Iru Ekun to sustain effective working relationships with the police, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the DSS and other paramilitary agencies, describing inter-agency cooperation as critical to community policing and the effectiveness of local security initiatives.
The FCT police commissioner also stressed that the network should notify relevant security agencies, particularly divisional police authorities within its areas of operation, before undertaking security activities requiring operational action.
He said such coordination was necessary to improve crime prevention and detection and ensure that community-based security initiatives worked in collaboration with established security institutions.
Responding, Olufadeju pledged that the network would consistently inform and engage the police in the FCT about its activities.
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