Insecurity : Abiodun calls for national policy to protect porous Borders

Abiodun who was speaking on the sidelines of security challenges facing the state, maintained that herdsmen attacks and kidnapping can be reduced if the borders were given better protection.

The governor said this while reiterating his administration’s commitment to providing security in the State during a Dialogue with Business Executives held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Abiodun revealed that he had written officially to President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Boundary Commission to appeal for measures to secure the nation’s land and maritime borders.

His words ” We have borders with Benin Republic in the Yewa North and Imeko-Afon. Unfortunately, these borders are very open. What Benin Republic has done is that they have fortified their borders. They have heavily policed it. They have done everything to discourage herdsmen from coming to their place. They even impose heavy fines on these herdsmen so they don’t go there.

“So what they now do is to come into our areas through our borders in Yewa North, Imeko. So they don’t go there. I have formally written to the President and the National border commission that we need to have a national policy on our borders. In Ogun State, we are not going to tolerate insecurity.”

He assured that the State would not tolerate any form of lawlessness or insecurity, stating “I have said also that if we catch you, we will go back  your house where you live, We will demolish where you live.

Continuing, he said “It is your responsibility to find out who your tenant is and what he does for a living. We have called the leadership of various communities to warn them that we would not encourage any act capable of jeopardizing our security in the State.”

He however appealed to those in the private sector to collaborate with the government to support the Security Trust Fund with donation of funds and materials to further strengthen the security apparatus in the gateway State.