…As Oyo procures 20 pick-up vans, costing N319m to boost security***
Osun State may have gradually emerged kidnappers nest, as the State Police Command says it has intensified manhunt to arrest gunmen who again, attacked travellers on the Obokun-Osogbo road at Ajebandele Village, Obokun Local Government Area of Osun.
Osun State recently, has sadly become popular for crimes related to kidnappings by gunmen who emerge from bush; only to easily perform their dastardly act.
The gunmen were reported to have killed a traveller while some other passengers were kidnapped and taken into the bush.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the Police command’s Spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, said that the state Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, led officers, vigilantes and local hunters to comb the bushes criminals retreated into. (Don’t they have toy drone?)
“Sequel to the incident of Tuesday, where a gang of criminals, at about 7:40pm, emerged from the bush and blocked Ibokun/Osogbo road, along Oja-Tuntun area, Egbeda town, to rob and kidnap travellers, the police, while responding to the distress call, rescued two female passengers with bullet wounds.
“A driver was however killed by the criminals while attempting to maneuver and escape their blockade, but the two rescued injured females were taken to the hospital, where they are receiving treatment.
“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode, in his assiduous task in ensuring that the state is not a safe haven for criminals; personally led the combined team of Police officers, vigilante and local hunters to comb bushes to ensure the perpetrators are arrested.
“The CP reiterated his resolute that, all forms of criminal incendiary will be checkmated in all nook and crannies of the state.
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In another development, the Oyo State Government has approved the sum of N319 million for the procurement of 20 units of pick-up vans as part of measures to further boost security in the state.
Briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan at the end of the State Executive Council meeting, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, said the move was to enhance logistics of security agencies in the state.
Olatubosun said the Makinde-led administration was committed to the security of lives and properties of residents and therefore was taking proactive measures to tackle the current security challenges in the state.
According to him, it is necessary to boost the efforts of the administration in further arresting the situation by procuring additional vehicles for security agencies and for other exigency purposes.
“In view of this, the State Executive Council, at the 5th executive council meeting of 2021, held today, Wednesday, approved the procurement of 20 units of JAC FRISON TX pick-up vans to boost security in the state at the cost is N319 million,” he stated.
Also, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashir Bello, disclosed that the executive council approved the renovation and reconstruction of 299 primary health care centres in the state.
The project, he said, would cost N6 billion, using the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA).
Bello said that the state primary healthcare board would renovate the remaining 52 primary health care centres to make 351 in the wards, as promised by the state governor.
“The 299 primary healthcare facilities have been given to two different firms and within two months, over 20 per cent of the project would have been completed.
“Note that the state government is not putting in any money as of now; it is when the project continues that the payment will be spread over a period of 12 months,” Bello said.
