Offa Robbery:Gov. Ahmed Calls For Synergy Among Security Agencies

Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has called for an increased synergy among security agencies in the country to enhance emergency response.

Governor Ahmed spoke when he received the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on a condolence visit at the Government House, Ilorin, following the armed robbery incident at Offa town.

Ahmed re-emphasized the need for community policing, saying “it leads to information gathering that can help security agencies in carrying out their responsibilities.”

He said all hands must be on deck to strengthen the security arrangement in the country in order to give citizens a better secured environment and promised to improve logistic support to security agencies.

The Governor said he will complement the efforts of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) who promised to send an Amoured Personnel Carrier (APC) to Offa with procurement of additional APC that will be located in strategic locations of the state.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said he came on a condolence visit to the state on behalf of the federal government. He said what happened in Offa town shook the entire nation and therefore expressed federal government sympathy to the state government and Offa people as a whole.

Said he: “we are going to learn from our mistakes and factor this into the larger security architecture in a manner that we will have a much more secured state and a much more secured country”.

Meanwhile, Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has also promised to build a new police station for Offa at a strategic location in the town within the next 45 days.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II at his Palace in Offa to commiserate with him and people of Offa over the Thursday, April 5th armed robbery attack that claimed several lives in the town, Alhaji Ahmed said he will do everything within his power to prevent a re-occurrence.

Besides, the Governor promised to facilitate an  Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) for the community in order to beef up security in Offa and its environs.

Governor Ahmed said he has secured the assurance of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that the security infrastructure of the town will be rapidly scaled-up.

He said these measures were necessary to forestall incessant attacks on the existing police station each time there was armed robbery attack, assuring that those behind the act will soon be apprehended and brought to justice.

According to him, “those who perpetrated this evil have saddened and inflicted pain on us but they cannot break our spirit. I assure you that those behind this wicked act will soon be apprehended and brought to justice swiftly.

“As always, I stand with you in solidarity and support. I pray for the families of the departed and injured and I salute the valiant police officers who fell on that day. We will do everything within our power to ensure that never again will people of Offa or any part of Kwara State live in fear or experience such tragedy again”.

Earlier, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, thanked the Governor for the visit and concern. He requested  government assistance to prevail on the commercial Banks not to abandon the town due to the incident.