GOVERNOR Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, SGF, disclosed, yesterday, that he has mobilised his colleagues in the South to activate a robust platform to exchange intelligence and robust operational synergy.
He also assured that they are fully committed to the security of the region against reports of terrorist attacks.
Recall that Governor, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State recently raised the alarm that bandits fleeing military onslaught in the North-West are coming down to Oyo for refuge.
Speaking at the 2025 annual inter-faith service for workers held at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, Makinde, however, assured residents of his government’s determined effort to smoke out the bandits and eliminate them.
Makinde noted that the ongoing military operations in the North-West, including aerial bombardments of bandit hideouts, had forced many criminals to seek refuge in other states, including Oyo.
Meanwhile, in the light of the unfolding drift of ISWAP members from the North to the South, the Southern Governors said they are strengthening different regional security arrangements.
He said they will serve as sources of local intelligence-gathering mechanisms for formal security agencies and provide occasional operational assistance.
Governor Abiodun, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr Kayode Akinmade, said: “The principles and strategies recommended for the collective good of the South include protection of lives and property, prevention of crime, community policing, economic development, enforcement of human rights, intelligence gathering, and fostering understanding among security agencies, government departments, and stakeholders to achieve a unified security approach.
“Governor Dapo Abiodun is convinced that security is a shared responsibility of both the federal and the state governments.
“This attitude explains why, from the inception of his administration, he has been funding both the state and federal security agencies in the state in a manner that is unprecedented since the creation of the state, and this is the exact ideology he has brought to bear as the Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, mobilising his colleagues for regular funding of the security apparatus in their respective states.
“For instance, operational vehicles, technological communication, and combat equipment are continually provided to security agencies to boost their motivation and performance, while the governors are also encouraged to foster joint security assessment, intelligence sharing, and actions among the states to address common security challenges and adopt common winning strategies.”
“Chairman of the Southern Governor’s Forum, SGF, and Governor Dapo Abiodun is fully committed to the security of the state and the entire Southern region of Nigeria.
“Since he emerged as the Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, he has worked assiduously with his colleagues for consistent close monitoring of the activities of the security agencies in the states, even as he also maintains regular touch through visits, telephone calls, and physical and virtual meetings with his counterparts in the region, especially in light of the unfolding drift of ISWAP members from the North to the South.
“As the chairman of the Southern Governor’s Forum, through meetings, calls, interstate visits, and correspondence, the Ogun State governor is comparing and sharing his winning formula with other governors of the South in demonstration of his commitment to impeachable security as a desideratum for massive development of the region.
“In addition, the governors share information and review the crime control strategies within the region through meetings, calls, interstate visits, and correspondence.
“The principles and strategies that are recommended for the collective good of the South include the protection of lives and property. We must ensure our citizens’ safety and the securing of assets in all the Southern states.
“Prevention of crime, we should at all times adopt suitable proactive measures to prevent criminal activities and maintain law and order within and between the states.
“Community policing, every state government in the South and the security agencies must collaborate with local communities to identify and address security concerns.
“Each state will adopt intelligence gathering, collecting and analyzing data to anticipate and respond to security threats is of utmost importance as it places us a step ahead of criminals.
“Interagency collaboration, fostering understanding among security agencies, government departments, and stakeholders to achieve a unified security approach.”