- Safiu Kehinde
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has on Monday announced the arrest of 70 Sudanese, Nigeriens, and Chadians over security threat.
This is coming under the heels of the alleged invasion of the state by suspected bandits.
While the state government had since debunked the claims, Abioud announced the arrest of the foreigners while addressing journalists at Iperu after a security meeting.
He revealed that the foreigners, mostly from Niger Republic, Sudan and Chad, were arrested over the past few days after failing to provide clear explanations for their presence in the state.
According to him, they could not speak English necessary for them to explain their mission.
The governor vowed to hand them over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for profiling while calling on non-indigene communities in the state to be more vigilant.
“The law enforcement agencies have arrested, within the last three to four days, about 70 persons from Chad and Sudan who cannot even speak English and cannot explain what they are doing here.
“We are going to process these individuals with the Nigeria Immigration Service. We will also be calling on our non-indigene communities to be more vigilant so that we know who is here and why they are here,” he said.
Abiodun announced that non-indigenes entering the state for the first time would undergo proper screening by their community leaders to ensure they are not used to orchestrate violence, stressing that government must know their purpose and means of livelihood.
He also noted that the state government will begin the documentation of all undocumented foreign nationals working with multinational companies operating in the state.
These, according to him, form part of proactive steps to safeguard lives and property across the state.
He further disclosed that a robust security arrangement would be put in place to secure the state in view of the recent spike in the spate of banditry, terrorism and other heinous crimes in parts of the country.
Abiodun also expressed concern over the activities of scavengers, noting that they now pose a greater security threat than before.
“We discussed the issue of scavengers who have become more of a threat. Law enforcement agencies will pay particular attention to them. We will engage them to ensure they are not being used to perpetrate crimes in the state,” he added.
Speaking on the security meeting, the governor said the meeting was convened in response to the country’s current security climate, noting that as Nigeria’s industrial capital, Ogun receives more than five million daily commuters, making it crucial for government to heighten vigilance.
He directed the police to immediately move into areas such as “Zanga” in Ijebu-Ode and similar enclaves across the state and clear them out, warning that properties used by criminals would henceforth be seized by the government.
Speaking on the recent incident at Ajebo in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area where the suspected bandits were alleged to be seen, the governor noted that security officers had visited the settlement to verify that its occupants pose no threat.
He also assured that the state’s forest reserves would be thoroughly secured to prevent criminals from using them as hideouts.
He further disclosed that the meeting deliberated extensively on the activities of scrap dealers and scavengers who may now be aiding criminal networks, adding that they would be properly engaged and monitored.
On illegal mining, Governor Abiodun noted that government is aware that some miners operate as miscreants and is working with security agencies to flush out criminals from mining sites and forest reserves.
The governor appealed to residents to actively support community policing efforts by providing credible information to security agencies.
“Security is not the responsibility of security agents alone. We must work with them. We must report anything suspicious so law enforcement can respond promptly. We must be observant and be our brother’s keeper,” he said.
Governor Abiodun assured that his administration would continue to provide the necessary logistics to security agencies and cautioned Obas and Baales against allocating government land to strangers, warning that any traditional ruler found culpable would be held accountable for undermining the state’s interest.
He commended security agencies for their cooperation and synergy, which he said has contributed significantly to the peace Ogun State currently enjoys.
The governor lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for stabilizing the economy and commended him and security agencies for the prompt rescuing of kidnapped victims in Niger and Kwara states.