Wilfred Afolabi, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, has declared war against hard drugs peddling in motor parks in Ondo City, in order to reduce the cult activities which has led to the killing of many people in the state.
Afolabi, who made the declaration on Wednesday at a stakeholders meeting, held in Ondo City, assured that hard drug-peddling would be stamped out at all motor parks in all the three local governments in attendance, Ondo East, Ondo West, and Ile-Oluji/Oke Igbo local government areas.
According to him, security patrol would be intensified across all nooks and crannies of the local government areas to check criminal activities.
BusinessDay reports that the meeting was organised by the 45th Commissioner of Police in the state under Community Safety Partnership Initiative to have first hand information on the challenges of the people on security.
The community Safety Partnership Initiative also provides a platform for mutual trust between the police and the people to tackling crimes at the grassroots with the collaboration of all stakeholders.
Speaking during the meeting, some of the attendees alleged that it’s politicians that are responsible for the rise in crime incidents in the city as they allegedly armed some youths in pursuit of their political ambitions.
Also Akintomide Akinkuolie, a Youth leader, alleged police of incessant indiscriminate arrests of innocent people at bus stops and demanding money to be paid before they are released.
Read also: NAFDAC seeks death penalty for drug peddlers
Richard Akintayo, Chairman, Ondo PCRC sought the help of the Commissioner to help them speak with National Assembly members from the city to assist in provision of security equipment, including vehicles, motorcycles, for the police.
Some members of commercial drivers in attendance disclosed that the presence of hard drugs peddlers in the motor parks is contributing to deadly clashes in the city.
They called for the installation of CCTV cameras in motor parks, hotels, and other strategic locations in the city to check criminal activities.
CP Afolabi, however, said that the Police in the state would continue to work with other security agencies, including the hunters, vigilantes among other volunteer groups to stem cultism and other crimes in the communities.
He implored the people to report any suspicious moves in their neighborhood for immediate action, dropping his direct telephone line with the people.
The Commissioner assured the people of utmost secrecy of whatever information given to him and his men to check crimes in Ondo city and its environs.
He said: “We are going back to the drawing board and trying to see how these issues rate can be addressed, most especially the one of cult activities and the activities of people peddling drugs. I can give you this assurance that it will be holistically addressed.”
Commenting after the meeting, Ayotunde Akinfolaranmi, Chairman, Ondo West Local Government Area, described the initiative as fantastic, saying it would go a long way in tackling security challenges being currently faced in the local government area.
