Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has urged the Nigeria Police to strengthen the police mobile force 72 Squadron, Ago-Are, to rid the state of illegal miners, banditry, kidnapping and other criminalities.
Makinde, who stated this when he received the deputy inspector general of police in charge of the south-west, Sylvester Alabi, at the Agodi Secretariat, said the call became imperative given emerging challenges of illegal miners and banditry in the Oyo north area of the state closest to the PMF 72 Squadron.
Represented by the deputy governor, Chief Bayo Lawal, Makinde said, “The squadron needed to be strengthened in logistics and necessary tools to be effective in that area, especially in combating the activities of the illegal miners.”
Makinde, who pointed out that the mineral resources remained the attraction of criminals to the Oke Ogun area of Oyo State, charged the DIG to mobilise his men to the zone.
He expressed his administration’s commitment to supporting the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in securing the state.
Earlier, DIG Alabi revealed that the visit complied with the directive of the inspector general of police to interface with police commands and other stakeholders in the southwest region to reduce crime and criminalities.
Alabi lauded the governor for his support of the state police command in maintaining law and order.