Oyo, Ogun Have Intensify Efforts To Put An End To kidnapping On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Says Owoseni

Oyo and Ogun States are reportedly working assiduously to put an end to kidnapper activity on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, according to CP Fatai Owoseni (rtd), the governor’s special adviser on security. 

The two states are equally putting in place measures to ensure that such an incident does not happen again, Owoseni said, noting that progress has been made in that direction. 

He said this while addressing journalists in Ibadan over the weekend, claiming that the two states are streamlining the deployment of security personnel to the axis. 

In response to the recent attack, he said, the Ogun and Oyo security teams had held lengthy discussions to develop a long-term strategy and ensure that the perpetrators of the crime would be brought to justice. 

Owoseni assured that “we won’t leave any gap as we are also getting the commitment from Ogun state axis” while elaborating that the involved states have increased visibility on the road and have continued to rethink their strategies. 

He said: “Prior to the nasty and unfortunate incident we had two weeks ago, we have always put measures in place to ensure that that road is safe for commuters and of course it was even heightened when the two state governors met to put up a joint Security task force. 

“Aside the fact that security operatives with the encouragement of the two state governments are working assiduously to ensure that the criminal elements are brought to Justice, progress has been made to that. 

“We are also putting measures in place to ensure that such won’t occur again. We have intensified our visibility on the road, it was a random thing and for random cases of kidnapping. What matters most is visibility unlike targeted ones. 

“We have strengthened our visibility on the road, we have continued to restrategise and ensure we don’t leave any gap, we are also getting the commitment from Ogun state axis. We have taken further steps to follow the agreement of the two governors in the area of security by following it to the letter. 

“The two states are talking, on Thursday the  delegate of Ogun State came to Ibadan to meet the commissioner of Police. On Wednesday, we went to Ogun to ensure that we streamline our deployments. Even today (Saturday) we had an extensive deliberation, I mean the Ogun and Oyo security team to workout on how to sustain our plans and ensure that criminal elements are dealt with. 

“We are looking at how we can be proactive. With what is in place now such thing will be a thing of the past. We pray that God crown our efforts. We are working together to ensure that whatever that is put in place is sustained. 

“We are looking for ways  to optimize the local elements which is the informal sector within that community in tandem with traditional rulers.”