Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in the state of continued support to strengthen their capacity to protect lives and property.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Makinde gave the assurance at the inauguration of the Oyo State Police Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit and its Oversight Committee, held at the Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan.
The governor described the initiative as the first of its kind in the South-West, saying it demonstrated the government’s and security agencies’ collective commitment to public safety.
Makinde lauded the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and commended the state’s security agencies for their efforts in keeping Oyo safe.
He expressed optimism that the Violent Crime Response Unit would succeed in combating violent crimes and promoting peace, safety and stability in Oyo State and the country.
The governor said his administration would continue to provide the support needed by security agencies to perform their duties effectively.
Reacting to the recent abduction in Oriire Local Government Area, Makinde sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives in the incident.
He said the attack was another reminder that the government must remain proactive on security matters.
The governor said his administration had been working with security agencies to clarify what happened and prevent a recurrence.
Makinde urged community leaders and residents to remain watchful and vigilant in their environments.
He advised them to report suspicious movements and activities promptly to security agencies.
The governor assured residents that his administration would continue to work closely with security agencies to combat crime and secure the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, described the launch of the Violent Crime Response Unit as a major policing reform initiative.
He said the unit was designed to strengthen public trust, enhance professionalism and improve tactical operations in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police.
Olugbenga explained that the VCRU was created to replace former tactical teams with a more accountable, intelligence-driven, professionally trained and human-rights-compliant unit capable of responding swiftly to violent crimes and emerging security threats.
The police commissioner said officers deployed to the unit were carefully selected from various divisions and formations across the state.
According to him, they were chosen based on discipline, operational experience, competence and integrity.
He also commended Makinde for supporting security advancement in the state, saying the government’s commitment to peace and institutional support had continued to motivate security agencies.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Coordinator of the Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative, Mogaji Nurudeen Akinade, and the Oyo State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, Abayomi Ogundele, said the initiative marked a major step towards strengthening public safety.
They said the launch also showed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to protecting lives and property.
They commended the Oyo State Government for putting in place a robust security architecture to combat crime and promote cordial relations among security agencies.