Few hours to the June 12 anniversary across the country on Saturday, security forces have displayed a show of force in Kwara and Oyo State
Timenews reports that there have been speculations of a possible breakdown of law and order by some persons who intend to hide under the cover of the June 12 anniversary to perpetrate violence in the state capital
Security forces comprising Soldiers, the DSS, Police, the Civil Defence Corps riding in patrol vans moved around major roads of the state capital.
The joint forces have described the show as an intentional warning signal to trouble makers and lawbreakers.
Spokesman of the Kwara State Police Command, Mr Okasanmi Ajayi, said ” The show of force by the security forces is a confidence-building strategy.
“It also serves to warn would-be lawbreakers of the readiness of the security community in the state to prevent any breakdown of law and order.”
The spokesman said it was also to show the people that it has the capacity to deal with any unlawful situation.
“We have the capacity to deal with criminals in the state.”
Ajayi explained that “It is not just beginning today, it has been on, even yesterday, we had one.”
He said law-abiding citizens of the state have no cause to be agitated.
Similarly in Oyo state, the state Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, said the patrol was to let the public be aware that their safety was the primary responsibility of the police.
The police started the show of force from the command’s headquarters at Eleyele, Ibadan, through Egbeda, Monatan, Akinyele, Moniya, Beere, Agodi-Gate, Olodo, Iwo Road, among others.
Onadeko said there was no truth in the rumour that suspected bandits had invaded major towns, warning that unfounded rumours would not do anybody good in the society.
According to her, the police and other sister security agencies in the state, in collaboration with the local hunters and vigilance groups, are working to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state.
She called on the citizens of the state to stop creating unnecessary fear in the public and provide credible information for the police to act upon.
“Go about your normal businesses; even, the June 12 issue, the police and other security agencies are working harmoniously together with non-state actors to ensure that the state is safe,” Mr Onadeko said.
