Olubadan urges security agencies to tackle land grabbing

The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, has called for collaboration among security agencies to tackle land grabbing menace in Oyo State.

Olubadan made the call on Tuesday at his Alarere residence while hosting the new General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Alabi, who was on a courtesy visit.

Oba Balogun, who spoke through one of his Chiefs, Tajudeen Aremu, remarked that Oyo State, particularly Ibadan the state capital had been peaceful but not without some skirmishes.

“These skirmishes include the menace of land grabbing, so we urged the GOC to collaborate with other sister agencies, including Amotekun to address the problem.

“The peace being enjoyed needs to be strengthened by addressing any identified threat. In doing this, I’m of the opinion that it needs concerted efforts, the joining of hands of all the security agencies.

“We all know the importance and strategic position of Ibadan in both the politics and security of the country.

“With peace in Ibadan land, you can be rest assured that there’s peace in Yoruba land and in Nigeria. Just as any threat to peace and security in the land is capable of snowballing to other parts of the country,” Olubadan said.

In his remark, the GOC intimated Olubadan that the current military operation in the country had gone beyond the traditional warding off of threat of some aggressors “as the country now has enemies living within the people, employing terrorism and other vices”.

Alabi said the Nigerian Army had changed tactics by engaging in training to deliver effectively and by this, they worked more with the people because of the need for intelligence gathering to tackle the problem.

The GOC described the 2 Division as a historic Division to protect Nigerians, noting that Ibadan is a very strategic place by virtue of its historical history, population and size.

“The division has over the years been enjoying good and cordial relationship with the people of Ibadan because they are loving and peaceful.

“We are leveraging on that and work with others to be able to deliver on our core mandate of securing our land and our people.

“We are appreciative of the support of His Imperial Majesty for the Nigerian Army through the division and we seek for more,” the GOC said.