By Tola Gbadamosi

Ahead of the February 24 inauguration of Ondo State Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami, for a fresh tenure, the Ondo State Police Command has assured residents and visitors of their safety during and after the event.

Speaking in an interview with Weekend Hope in Akure, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, reaffirmed the commitment of the police to ensuring a seamless and secure ceremony.

According to him, “All necessary security measures are in place to ensure a smooth and secure event.

“We have profiled all the guests coming into the state and have details of the hotels they will be staying in.

“We will escort them from the airport to their hotels and to the venue to ensure their safety,” he said.

The Commissioner urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies, stressing that the police are committed to ensuring a hitch-free ceremony.

He further reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping in the state.

“I can assure you that cases of kidnapping in Ondo State will soon be a thing of the past.

“We are fully aware of the situation and have already taken action.

“There are strategies in place, which we cannot disclose publicly,” Afolabi stated.

He disclosed that the police recently conducted a major operation around the Owo-Ifon axis, leading to the arrest of several suspected kidnappers.

“During interrogation, six of them admitted to being involved in some of the kidnapping cases we have recorded in the state,” he added.

CP Afolabi, however, emphasised the importance of public cooperation in combating crime.

“If anything happens and you fail to inform the police, you are not helping us. We need to know so we can act swiftly,” he stated.

He also announced a dedicated hotline for residents to report security concerns via text message: 07032358284, stressing that the number is strictly for security matters and should only be used for text messages.

The police boss reassured the people of Ondo State that security agencies are working tirelessly to ensure peace and safety across the state.