Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has raised the alarm over threats to peace and security within the state school system and rural farm communities.
In order to counter the threats, the governor has also summoned a meeting of the State Security Council and announced major security reforms.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Tuesday, Adeleke said intelligence reports indicate a deliberate mobilisation of criminal elements to the rural areas of the state.
The governor also stressed that such reports are alarming and pose serious concerns to the wellbeing of Osun people.
He also noted that the administration is worried about reports that those behind the plot were targeting disruption of farming activities through kidnappings and attacks on rural farm settlements.
The statement revealed that schools were being targeted with abductions and attacks as a way of stopping the implementation of the safe school initiative and the multi-billion naira infrastructure plan.
Adeleke noted that while a meeting of the State Security Council has been summoned, preliminary directives have been issued to school authorities to take precautions to enhance the safety of pupils and students.
“The Ministry of Education and all education agencies have been ordered to review safety measures in Osun schools in line with the safe school initiative.
“In specific terms, school principals and heads are expected to clear overgrown school environments and ensure close liaison with the Parents and Teachers Association to secure their school environments.”
The governor directed the Food Security Committee to submit an interim report to allow for immediate actions to safeguard farm security and secure farmers as the rainy season takes off.
“We expect the initial report to contain practical and implementable measures to safeguard our farming communities through closer integration and mobilisation of the local hunters and forest rangers.”
The governor further announced plans to embark on major reforms of the Amotekun security force, frowning at the internal rivalry, opposition penetration and external intervention that are negatively affecting the operation of the Corps.
“The Amotekun is to be reorganised to make it a truly efficient force to complement the efforts and operation of the police and other security agencies.
“I assure the public that this administration has taken preemptive steps to secure our schools and farming communities. Osun is a peaceful state which will not succumb to attempts to destabilise the peace and harmony among our people.
“I have summoned a meeting of the State Security Council to firm up all plans. I assure our people that I am on top of the situation. We are committed to securing our schools, our farm and our society.
“No stone will be left unturned to disrupt plans of enemies of progress to plunge the state into crisis. I urge members of the public to inform security agencies of any unusual movement or activities across the state,” Adeleke was quoted as saying.
