Kunle Adelabu
-Council Chair vows to prosecute suspects, sustain raid
A few days, after the Executive Chairman of Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (IBLCDA), Omo’ba Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun, issued stern warnings against crime and any form of criminality in his council, he led a team of the council’s Joint Security Taskforce to storm an illegal market situated at Morekete Junction, Oreta, in Igbogbo, which turned out to be an illicit drug haven.
According to the council boss, the operation was embarked upon following a credible intelligence gathering. It was also gathered from stakeholders in the area that the illegal market has been a major source of concern to residents.
Several types of drugs – marijuana, codeine, crystal methamphetamine, and tramadol, dangerous weapons, bullet proof vests and other items were recovered after the coordinated security operation led by Omo’ba Aroyewun, with several suspects arrested. The suspects who were removed with black maria, have since been transferred to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
Acting on the intelligence, the Executive Chairman mobilised the Joint Task Force (JTF) for an early morning enforcement operation aimed at dismantling the illegal settlement and flushing out suspected criminal elements believed to be operating from the location.
Addressing reporters after the operation, Chairman Aroyewun expressed concern over the level of criminal activity uncovered at the site, describing the development as a serious threat to public safety and community wellbeing.
“We are aware of the security challenges happening across the country, and being a proactive government, measures have been put in place with a lot of efforts and surveillance and intelligence gathering and pro-activeness in conformity to the residents’ requests.
It is also very important that after the security summit, decisions were taken that any black spot criminals are using to perpetrate their nefarious acts would be visited and appropriate measures would be taken.
We have received a lot of petitions, calls and messages from the CDC and CDAs registering their displeasures at the menace being created by these hoodlums. We paid an unscheduled visit to this place which has been identified.
It is an illegal market because it has no permit from the local government and they are selling hard drugs. When we visited the place, it was a serious threat to the peace and security of our LCDA and as a government responsible for the protection of lives and properties of our people we cannot sit down and fold our hands,” Aroyewun said.
The council boss, added: “There are about 300 of them in that place doing nothing except to take hard drugs and constitute menace.”
He reiterated the council’s zero tolerance for harbouring criminals in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA.
“I have said it and I am reiterating that we will not tolerate anybody who harbours these elements causing havoc in our society. Cases of robbery, burglary and theft have been reported. People cannot walk freely in that axis and we have received several complaints.”
Aroyewun urged parents, CDAs and other stakeholders to join hands with the council authorities to fight against drugs and those distributing them to prevent children and young ones from being victims and constituting serious menace to the society.
He commended the Joint Task Force for its professionalism and dedication, stating that the operation further validates the administration’s investments in strengthening grassroots security and intelligence gathering,
Aroyewun described the successful operation as a pointer to dangers confronting the society and effectiveness of collaboration with stakeholders.
“This proves that we are sitting on a time bomb; it proves that we have allowed hard drugs to find a place in our society; it also proves that we are fighting a scourge and that we are going to do everything within the confines of the law and also that, intelligence gathering is working and our security agencies, especially our JTF are doing wonders and this proves that we can make it happen if we have the support of all stakeholders to stop this menace in our society.
I am sending this out to our parents, community, and our religious organisations, that we must all rise up to this occasion to fight this problem in our society, because its damage cannot be quantified. It destroys lives, future and the society and we must fight it to the end resolutely,” Aroyewun appealed.
