The First Pan-Ogbomoso Security Summit took place in Ogbomoso on 3rd April 2021 and was well attended by a cross section of participants from the affiliated associations, political and business leaders, public servants, academics, security experts, traditional and community leaders, opinion leaders, market women, farmers, trade unions, guild of tradesmen, religious groups, philanthropies, financial analysts, youths, women groups, development partners and the general public. The main theme of the Conference was: Security
Predicates Sustainable Development.2. The Welcome Address was delivered by one of the Conveners and President Ogbomoso Parapo Agbaaye, Justice Afolabi Adeniran (Rtd). He welcomed all to the Summit which he stated was to deliberate on the security situation in Nigeria especially as it affects Ogbomoso Land and to proffer feasible solutions.
In this regard, he exalted the brave, courageous and patriotic men ofyore, who during the period of conflicts effectively and uncompromisingly defended Ogbomoso land and ensured that it was never conquered and remained so till date.
He recalled that the most prominent event during this period was the Fulani wars that occurred in early 19th Century, where with courage, dexterity and exemplary valour, Ogbomoso men warded off the invading marauders. This trend had continued till the present age in the area of security, where our men and women have continued to display remarkable ability and success in their endeavors such as Admiral Akinwale Wey, Col. Shittu Alao,Brigadier Benjamin Adesanya Adekunle (“Black Scorpion”) and Navy Commodore Akano (Jack). Others were Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo, Major General Oladayo Popoola, Air Commodore Layi Atanda and Col.Daniel Akintonde,amongst others. The Convener acknowledged the contribution of many that made the event possible and expressed best wishes for a successful conference.
3. The keynote Address was delivered by Prof Alex Gboyega (former
Head of Political Science Department, University of Ibadan). In his address,
he commended the organisers of the Summit for the initiative. He affirmed that given the limited capacity of the federal and state security apparatuses’ to tackle the insecurity problems engulfing the country, there was the need for reevaluation of the national security architecture such that local vigilante efforts were absorbed into the framework and appropriately regulated to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity from foreign bandits and guarantee peace and security. In furtherance of this objective, local government budgets should reflect the enhanced security concerns and substantially support local vigilantes. He also advocated for the setting up of functional local systems to assist farmers get adequate compensation when their farms were invaded while urging the National Assembly to come up with appropriate legislation on accountability for security expenditures at all levels of government.
4. The presentation of briefs on security situation in Ogbomoso dealt
mainly with threat assessment in various communities across Ogbomosoland and resolution of same through proffered solutions. It was noted over a period of time the challenges of Herders/Farmers clashes in Orire Local Government Area had taken a new dimension resulting in destruction of farmlands, injuriesto farmers and in some cases loss of lives, owing to influx of Fulani herdsmen from Oke Ogun and Ilorin. The situation is further compounded by the duplicitous role of traditional rulers and local government officials who patently side with herders against the local community. It was also noted that unresolved chieftancy disputes in Tewure, Ajee and Sanmo stoked tension inthose areas which have invariably provoked general insecurity.
5. The Summit was informed that the attention of the Onikoyi had been
drawn to the various issues promoting insecurity in Orire Local Area, with a
request that they be addressed appropriately to douse tension. In the same vein, the Oyo State Government had been availed the assessment of the security situation in Ogbomosoland, and requested to undertake expeditious resolution of the various chieftancy disputes to douse palpable tension in the area, while enforcing the State Anti- grazing Law to stem the uncontrolled influx of Fulani herdsmen. In this regard, it was thought pertinent that awareness campaigns be mounted to sensitize the local community, while interim measures by various security agencies were sustained to mitigate the reoccurring communal clashes.
6 The meeting noted that the boundary disputes between Oyo State and
Osun State in Iresa Adu, Surulere Local Government Area had resulted into
crisis and acknowledged the delineation work been undertaken by the National Boundary Commission. In this regard, the Oyo State government was urged to sustain the preventive measure of visible patrolling in the vicinity to maintain peace while liaison with the National Boundary Commission to find a durable solution continued.
7.
The Conference observed with deep concern that the nefarious
activities of some LAUTECH students engaged in internet fraud and cultism
were denting the image of the institution. Most worrisome was that these negative trends have permeated secondary and even some primary schools in Ogbomoso town.
The Summit therefore resolved that community wide sensitization programmes be undertaken, stringent measures of detection be
adopted by the School, while security agencies come up with more strategic
enforcement methods.
8. The Summit affirmed that the devious activities of miscreants and
hoodlums in Ogbomoso town constitute a threat with negative socio
economic impact on life. Their presence in downtown areas had resulted in crimes, vandalization of properties and general state of insecurity. It was submitted that these activities, if unchecked could result in the complete breakdown of law and order. It was therefore decided that general sensitization take place at community levels to expose inherent dangers of bad behaviours while promoting the merit skills acquisition and vocational training programmes. In addition, it was agreed that the establishment of more Divisional Police Offices and Police Mobile Force units would improve sustained law enforcement.
9 It was acknowledged that drug abuse and addiction by the youths in
Ogbomosoland was a malaise with serious social and security ramifications. It was a problem that had generated deep concern within society and the Summit therefore agreed that sensitization, rehabilitation, diligent prosecution
and conviction of offenders and community level assistance to law
enforcement agencies offered the best chance to combat this menace. In this
connection, the Summit lauded the initiative of Ogbomoso First Community Group (O’ First Group) which last month unveiled a Behavioural Action Care Centre to subdue the influence of drugs and related crimes.
10. The meeting was in general agreement that hunters’ groups and other traditional security system currently in place in all the Local Government Areas in Ogbomoso be incentively reorganized to complement existing security structure with a view to securing the local communities against marauding herdsmen.
11.The presentation on the beneficial utilization of our forests underlined
that Ogbomoso land was within the transition forest area of Nigeria which had been greatly degraded due to unsustainable farming and grazing practices.This was compounded by adverse impacts of climate change leading to massive poverty which was the main ingredient of insecurity in the affected areas. In this connection, the meeting reaffirmed the important linkage of good environmental management to the sustainability of forest our reserves as they
hold essential biodiversity for the present and future use. To this end, it was underscored that the State government as a matter of urgency, need to recruit, train and deploy forest guards to man our forests in order to effectively harness their abundant resources, curb over grazing and prevent them becoming enclaves for criminal activities.
12.The Summit agreed to establish an Ogbomoso Vocational and
Development Council (OVDC). The Council which would be drawn from the Parapo and other concerned societies, associations and clubs. (not more than 25 members) would oversee the administration of skills acquisition and job creation for the teeming youths based on a sustainable and commonly agreed template. It would also coordinate support to all law enforcement and local security outfits to enable them discharge their duties effectively. It would equally be seized with development issues that were considered germane to growth and well being of Ogbomoso from time to time. To achieve this, it was approved that a Vocational and Development Trust Fund be established (one billion Naira) subscribed to by the Parapo and all the concerned organizations as well as public spirited Ogbomoso sons and daughters. A well defined governance system would be designed to ensure that the Fund was operated in a transparent and accountable manner to engender confidence of all. To this a Council consisting of 23 members was inaugurated with Amb. Akin Oyateru as its Executive Chairman.
13. It was agreed that the Pan-Ogbomoso Security Summit was an initiative in due season given the general insecurity plaguing the whole country. It was affirmed that the briefs and resolutions adopted at the Summit would go a long way to ensure that community level solutions were implemented to complement those of the government at both federal and state levels to ensure socio-economic development in Ogbomoso land in assured safety.
Emphasis was placed on the need to rework the security architecture of
Ogbomoso. Participants expressed the hope that the Summit would be an
annual event where the security situation of the area was presented,
assessed and resolved.
Done at Ogbomoso, this 3rd
day of April 2021.
THE CONVENERS.
