Okun Stakeholders Demand Settler Profiling, Community Policing to Curb Insecurity
Worried by the rising cases of kidnappings and security breaches in Okunland, Kogi West Senatorial Zone, stakeholders have called for proper profiling of settlers by traditional rulers and community leaders to prevent infiltration by criminal elements.
This resolution was among those reached at the Okun Security Summit, organized by the Okun Development Association (ODA) in Kabba on Friday.
Security Challenges in Okunland: Call for Action
Speaking at the summit, the President General of ODA, Ambassador Akenson Rotimi, stated that the apex socio-cultural organization of the Okun-Yoruba people convened the summit due to the worsening security situation in the region.
Ambassador Akenson, the Lisa of Egbe, emphasized the need for a joint-action approach to combat insecurity in Okun communities.
Stakeholders at the summit proposed that a well-funded community policing structure was critical to addressing the security challenges. They also advocated for the establishment of a community-based security trust fund.
They urged the adoption of technology-driven security operations and encouraged wealthy Okun indigenes to support the initiative.
Additionally, they stressed that job creation, economic empowerment, and social interventions were vital in reducing youth vulnerability to crime.
Key Resolutions from the Summit
In a communiqué issued after the summit and made available to journalists on Sunday, the stakeholders resolved that:
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A security audit must be conducted in all Okun communities to identify and bridge security gaps.
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Strict procedures must be followed in the sale of land and property. Any sale not following due process should be voided and revoked.
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Okun vigilante groups and hunters should be adequately incentivized and motivated.
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A sustainable support system should be established for victims of security breaches in Okunland.
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Traditional rulers should receive proper backing from the government and well-meaning individuals to enhance security in their domains.
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Traditional security measures should not be abandoned by the communities.
Government and Security Leaders Weigh In
The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, was represented at the summit by the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Duro Omodara (Rtd.).
Omodara stated that the state government was fully aware of the summit and supports the ODA’s initiative. He added that grassroots community policing was recognized by the Ododo administration as a sustainable way to combat insecurity, and the government was working towards strengthening it.
The Ondo State Commander of the South-West Security Network (Amotekun), Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, emphasized that effective synergy in community policing among neighboring states required legislative backing.
Speaking on behalf of the Okun traditional rulers, the Olujumu of Ijumu and Chairman of the Ijumu Traditional Council, Oba Williams Olusegun Ayeni, JP, alleged that the persistent attacks by non-indigenous criminal elements were part of a larger agenda to grab Okun land and subjugate its people. He urged collective resistance to such attempts.
The high-profile summit, moderated by Dr. Williams Toyin Akanle, a renowned security expert and retired Director of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), drew participation from top government officials, security experts, and traditional rulers across Kogi State.
With insecurity becoming a growing concern in Okunland, stakeholders are hopeful that these resolutions and collaborations will lead to concrete security reforms in the region.
