CITIZENS HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN COMBATING INSECURITY- OYO POLICE COMMISSIONER. (PHOTO).

 Citizens have a role to play in combating insecurity

Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, has aptly identified a key challenge security agents face in combating bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists: citizens often witness suspicious activities but fail to report them.

The commissioner led journalists to a residential property in Araromi Quarters, Ayegun North, Oluyole Local Government Area, where kidnappers had held Busayo John-Paul—the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu—and her twin sons before the police rescued them. 

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the kidnappers had repeatedly used the location as a hideout, bringing abducted victims there while neighbouring residents chose to ignore the activities.

“They have been bringing the abductees here. They bring them here, and people see them. Some even greet them and say 'welcome.' When people see such things and don’t speak up, what do you expect us to do? If suspicious activities like this had been reported, none of this would have happened. We would have taken the necessary steps in good time,” the commissioner said.

My fellow Nigerians, security agents are not magicians—they need the support of citizens to fight all forms of crime. Whenever you notice anything unusual in your area, please make a discreet call to the security agencies