Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has issued a statement revealing that his administration has uncovered plans by criminals to attack schools and farm settlements in rural communities in the state, News About Nigeria reports.
The governor expressed concern that such attacks were designed to disrupt the implementation of his administration’s infrastructure plan and create apprehension among the residents.
In the statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke disclosed that intelligence reports indicated that criminal elements were deliberately mobilised in rural areas of the state.
The plot, according to the governor, was to disrupt farming activities through kidnappings and attacks on rural farm settlements.
Schools were also targeted for abductions and attacks to divert attention from the safe school initiative and the multi-billion naira infrastructure plan.
In response to the alarming intelligence, Governor Adeleke has convened a meeting of the state security council to prevent security breaches across the state.
The Ministry of Education and education agencies have been instructed to review safety measures in Osun schools in line with the Safe School Initiative.
“In specific terms, school principals and heads are expected to clear overgrown school environments and ensure close liaison with the Parents and Teachers Association to secure their school environments.
“The governor further directs the Food Security Committee to submit an interim report to allow for immediate actions to safeguard farm security and secure farmers as the rainy season knocks on the door.
“We expect the initial report to contain practical and implementable measures to safeguard our farming communities through closer integration and mobilisation of the local hunters and forest rangers.”
Governor Adeleke announced plans to embark on major reforms of the Amotekun security force.
He assured the public that his administration has taken steps to secure schools and farming communities.
The governor vowed not to succumb to attempts to destabilise the state’s peaceful coexistence.
