Ololade Adeyanju/
The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, has urged the police to consider the use of juju or local deities to fight crime.
The first class traditional ruler gave the suggestion in his remarks at the inauguration of the Zonal Security Stakeholders’ Forum, at the headquarters of Zone 11 Police Command, in Osogbo, Osun State yesterday.
The monarch said even the seemingly intractable problem of corruption in the country could be easily solved if politicians were compelled to swear to the local deities, especially Ogun (the Yoruba god of iron), while taking their oath of office.
Aladelusi, who was speaking on how to make the collaboration between the police and the local communities more effective, said criminals would be less daring if they knew they would be dealt with in the traditional way.
He said this method had proven to be effective during the battle to rid Akure of the activities of secret cults.
“With the help of the police, we raided the hideouts of these cultists and arrested as many suspects as possible. I then asked them to be brought to the palace where they were made to take a traditional oath. Since then none of them had the courage to continue with their nefarious activities and Akure community has been enjoying peace,” the monarch said.
Speaking at the same occasion, the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, said the time had come for Nigeria to embrace state police.
Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, said the “issue is no longer if we need state police but when”.
Ajimobi described Oyo State as one of the safest in Nigeria, adding that this feat was achieved through the commitment and determination of the government.
According to him, these manifested in the formulation and adoption of various security initiatives, including the establishment of ‘Operation Burst and the Oyo State Security Trust Fund, among others.
The acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who was represented by Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Logistics and Supply, Taiwo Lakanu, lauded the initiative of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Adeleye Oyebade.
The IGP said: “I want to specifically commend and appreciate the foresight, professional depth and sense of commitment to duty of AIG Adeleye Oyebade for conceptualizing and driving the process of inaugurating the Zonal Security Stakeholders’ Forum. I also congratulate the government and people of the zone for supporting this initiative…
“Partnership models of this nature represent a critical source of inspiration to the police and should be sustained. I, therefore, recommend its adoption by other police commands across the country in our renewed drive to address the threats of crime in the country.”
Oyebade in his welcome address said, “the idea of a Security Stakeholders’ Forum was muted out of a burning desire and uncommon willingness to provide robust security for the good people of Ondo, Osun and Oyo states under the zone”.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion include, the Secretary to the Osun State Government, Prince Oluwole Oyebamiji, who represented Governor Gboyega Oyetola; the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji; the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi; former chairman of First Bank, Prince Ajibola Afonja; Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr. Adewale Raji; Pastor Olubi Johnson of Life Forte International School, Ibadan; Chief Lamidi Ajadi; representatives of the Bankers’ Forum in the zone; representatives of sister security agencies and top police officers in the zone, including the commissioners of Police in Osun, Oyo and Ondo states.
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