- Alerts military authorities
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on Tuesday raised the alarm over the alleged regrouping of some Niger Delta militants in parts of the state.
This was coming few months after militants invaded and sacked some communities in the state, including Arepo, Warewa and others.
Governor Amosun, while hosting the General Officer Commanding 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Ebenezer Babatunde Oyefolu at his Oke-Mosan office in Abeokuta, alerted the military top brass about the alleged regrouping of the militants in the Ijebu Ode and Ogere areas of the state.
The governor, who also assured that his government would put necessary measures in place to check the return of the militants to the state, praised the efforts of the Nigerian Army in fighting the Boko Haram sect.
According to him, “Everybody would agree that we are winning the war; people are returning back home, areas that were under the control of Boko Haram are now free and people are going back home. So, huge commendation for the military.
“When we bring it back home here, not too long ago, we had this issue with these criminals. I don’t call them militants, they are just criminals, who took over all our riverirne areas, we ran to Mr. President and all service chiefs were invited and debriefed and they were sent away.
“But let me sound another note now, that what we are hearing is that they are now regrouping. They have moved from where they were sent away from; they are now moving very close to Ijebu Ode towards Ogere.
“Before now, they were in Arepo, Sagamu, Ikorodu but they have been sent away. What they are now doing is they are regrouping and taking hostages around the border areas of Ogun State now. They are now relocating there. It’s a very good avenue for me to inform you but we would be ready for them and it’s good that I am putting you on notice.”
Amosun also showered encomium on the security officials in the state, stressing that they were able to put security challenges which confronted his administration at inception under control.
He said that security measures on government investments in the state had helped in hosting over 100 industries in various parts of the state.
He said, “I want to thank you sincerely. Indeed, before we came, security was a serious challenge, may be is still but not as pronounced and that shows the level of combative activities in the state.
“We are creating an enabling environment for industries to strive and one of the key things before anybody would want to invest is the security. But we have to do more, especially in the area of kidnapping that is rearing its ugly head now. Hardly would a week or a month go without such incident. We know it’s the sign of the times but we must be ready for them and be ahead of them.”
Speaking earlier, Major General Oyefolu lauded the state government for supporting the Nigerian Army.
He said that the security of the state should be the concern of every citizen in the state.
The GOC, therefore, appealed to Governor Amosun to extend his kind gestures to the officers in the state, noting that most barracks in Ogun were in deplorable condition and needed renovation.
