Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Chairman of the Southern Governors? Forum, SGF, disclosed yesterday that he has mobilised his colleagues in the South to activate a robust platform to exchange intelligence and robust operational synergy.

He also assured that they are fully committed to the security of the region against reports of terrorist attacks.

Recall that Governor, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State recently raised the alarm that bandits fleeing military onslaught in the North-West are coming down to Oyo for refuge.

Speaking at the 2025 annual inter-faith service for workers held at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, Makinde, however, assured residents of his government?s determined effort to smoke out the bandits and eliminate them.

Makinde noted that the ongoing military operations in the North-West, including aerial bombardments of bandit hideouts, had forced many criminals to seek refuge in other states, including Oyo.

Meanwhile, in the light of the unfolding drift of ISWAP members from the North to the South, the Southern Governors said they are strengthening different regional security arrangements.

He said they will serve as sources of local intelligence-gathering mechanisms for formal security agencies and provide occasional operational assistance.

Governor Abiodun who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said: ?The principles and strategies recommended for the collective good of the South include protection of lives and property, prevention of crime, community policing, economic development, enforcement of human rights, intelligence gathering, and fostering understanding among security agencies, government departments, and stakeholders to achieve a unified security approach.

?Governor Dapo Abiodun is convinced that security is a shared responsibility of both the federal and the state governments.

?This attitude explains why, from the inception of his administration, he has been funding both the state and federal security agencies in the state in a manner that is unprecedented since the creation of the state, and this is the exact ideology he has brought to bear as the Chairman of Southern Governors? Forum, mobilising his colleagues for regular funding of the security apparatus in their respective states.

?For instance, operational vehicles, technological communication, and combat equipment are continually provided to security agencies to boost their motivation and performance, while the governors are also encouraged to foster joint security assessment, intelligence sharing, and actions among the states to address common security challenges and adopt common winning strategies.?

?Chairman of the Southern Governor?s Forum, SGF, and Governor Dapo Abiodun is fully committed to the security of the state and the entire Southern region of Nigeria.

?Since he emerged as the Chairman of Southern Governors? Forum, he has worked assiduously with his colleagues for consistent close monitoring of the activities of the security agencies in the states, even as he also maintains regular touch through visits, telephone calls, and physical and virtual meetings with his counterparts in the region, especially in light of the unfolding drift of ISWAP members from the North to the South.

?As the chairman of the Southern Governor?s Forum, through meetings, calls, interstate visits, and correspondence, the Ogun State governor is comparing and sharing his winning formula with other governors of the South in demonstration of his commitment to impeachable security as a desideratum for massive development of the region.

?In addition, the governors share information and review the crime control strategies within the region through meetings, calls, interstate visits, and correspondence.

?The principles and strategies that are recommended for the collective good of the South include the protection of lives and property. We must ensure our citizens? safety and the securing of assets in all the Southern states.

?Prevention of crime, we should at all times adopt suitable proactive measures to prevent criminal activities and maintain law and order within and between the states.

?Community policing, every state government in the South and the security agencies must collaborate with local communities to identify and address security concerns.

?Each state will adopt intelligence gathering, collecting and analyzing data to anticipate and respond to security threats is of utmost importance as it places us a step ahead of criminals.

?Interagency collaboration, fostering understanding among security agencies, government departments, and stakeholders to achieve a unified security approach.?

Meanwhile, a source within the Department of State Services, DSS, who confided in Vanguard, said that they have received intelligence on the influx of terrorists in some states in the country.

The DSS source noted that proactive measures and strategies have been taken that have led to several arrests, especially in the South West.

The source said: ?Sure, we?ve received intelligence reports even before their arrival, the directorate has put in place proactive measures and strategies to arrest them.

?Many of them have been arrested in some states in the South West. Definitely what we?re doing is not for public consumption, but members of the public should be extra vigilant and promptly speak out whenever they see anything suspicious.

?Also, members of the public should go about their businesses because the security personnel across the country are on red alert.?

In a chat with Vanguard, chairman of the South West Amotekun Commanders, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, said strategies have been put in place to curb the activities of the terrorists.

Adeleye said: ?We are not unmindful of the speculation of the influx of the terrorists into the South West.

?The state governors and the Amotekun corps, across the South West states, are strategizing so that we are not taken by surprise by the bandits. We want to assure residents to be rest assured that we are up to the task. We are ready for them.?

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Ondo State governor on Security Matters, Chief Olugbenga Atiba, said measures being taken by the state government to address the influx of ISWAP terrorists into the Southwest, include regular joint border patrols with neighbouring states, military and paramilitary clearance operations to identify and flush out any terrorist elements in our state.

Atiba said: ?It includes a prompt clampdown on security breaches to prevent terrorists from hijacking such incidents, providing adequate logistic support by to security agencies operating in our state to ensure they are well-equipped to tackle any security challenges.

?The issuance of security advisories to residents and passers-by to inform them of potential security threats and guide how to stay safe and monitoring of Security Situation in other parts of the country to forestall any untoward security challenges that may spill into our state.

?We are committed to ensuring the safety and security of our citizens, and we will continue to work tirelessly to prevent the influx of terrorists into our state.?

In its reaction, the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, urged the South West governors to flush out the bandits.

YCE, in a statement by its Secretary-General, Chief Oladipo Oyewole said: ?The infiltration of bandits into the forests of North West to Osun and Oyo states is of great concern to all.

For anyone who knows the geography of those areas, it is porous and assailable. Those descriptions alone must be seen as a source of worry for Yorubaland.

?The YCE haven taken deep cognisance of the need for the safety of lives and properties of Nigerians feels worried and more concerned for a need for proactive measures to assail the fear that is beginning to grip the hearts and minds of those who care!?

For the Governors of Oyo and Osun States to have come into the open to speak about the fear means there are a lot of issues related to internal security.

?The Governments of Osun and Oyo and Lagos cannot and must not relax. Law enforcement agencies too must prepare. The Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, therefore, urges all agencies of Government (along with both Federal and States) to be proactive in this unanimous struggle to chase them out.? (Vanguard)

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