By Adekola Afolabi

To ensure a crime free society, there must be a collaborative vigilance and willingness of all to contribute to security trust fund.

These among others were the words of a cross section of stakeholders at the just concluded Security Summit organised by the Ondo state government to address security challenges in the state.

In separate interviews with some of the stakeholders including the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun, the Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas and Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh, the Methodist Bishop, Diocese of Owo, Right Rev’d Solomon Abayomi Adegbite, and one of the resource persons at the event, Prof Kemi Rotimi, particularly applauded the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for putting such an all important summit in place with a view to ensuring more  security of lives and property of the citizenry.

The theme of the Security Summit held at the International Centre for Culture and Events (The Dome), Akure, the Ondo state capital, is “Improving the Security Architecture of Ondo State for Sustainable Peace and Development”.

Oleyelogun explained that the summit created an avenue to critically analyse the current security system in the state, identify and block all loopholes as well as creating a conducive environment for sustainable development of the state.

He recalled that the state has always been a relatively peaceful place until recently when cases of kidnapping became rampant, especially in the northern senatorial district of the state, commending all the security agencies in the state including the Nigerian army for their major roles played to reverse the situation.

The Speaker said, to forestall a recurrence of the ugly past, all hands must be on deck to device or fashion out new security approaches to combat the menace and other related crimes and criminality.

He disclosed that the legislative arm of government was ready to give any bill presented on security matters expeditious consideration, noting that the security of the people in the state is their utmost concern as no economy can thrive under a state of insecurity.

On his part, Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas and Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh, who explained that traditional rulers in the state and the state government have been working together to curb crimes and criminality, equally called on the public to always report any noticed criminal hideout to the appropriate quarters for prompt actions and avoid taking law into their hands.

He disclosed that traditional rulers in the state during their monthly meeting briefed the governor on the security situation in their domains, saying this is another way of synergising to ensure collective peace and security across the state.

The monarch pointed out that if not because of paucity of funds, the monarchs would have requested that certain percentage of local government allocations be allocated to traditional rulers across the 18 council areas to support the fight against insecurity in their domains.

Also, Right Rev’d Solomon Abayomi Adegbite, opined that security situation in the society can be improved through constant sensitisation and education of the public, adding that as religious leaders they are also in the business of educating people on the need to be security conscious in their various communities.

He called for collaborative efforts with the state government to ensure adequate security of lives and property of the citizenry, just as he called on every citizen to be ready to contribute to Security Trust Fund to improve security architecture of the state.

One of the resource persons at the event, Prof Kemi Rotimi, an historian from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, advocated for the recruitment of more hands into the police force and procurement of necessary equipment to check crimes in the society.

He explained that community policing could only work when those who understand the terrains are recruited into the force at the grassroots.