Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo and his Ogun State counterpart, Dapo Abiodun, are currently meeting in Abeokuta over rising cases of insecurity in both states.
The two governors are in a closed-door meeting with heads of various security agencies in both states in an effort to find solutions to kidnappings, armed robberies and other crimes in the two states.
New Telegraph reports that there has been upsurge in kidnap cases, especially along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and other border communities of the two South West states.
The meeting, tagged, “Ogun, Oyo Joint Security Meeting”, the bilateral session is ongoing at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta.
In their separate welcome remarks, Abiodun and Makinde noted that the joint security effort “is urgent and much needed” towards addressing the challenges.
Abiodun noted that kidnappings and other crimes is rampart at the border communities of the two states, hence, the bilateral meeting.
He added that both states have peculiar security challenges and they have been tackling it independently with their own mechanisms.
According to him, the joint security effort would promote sustained economic development in the neighbouring states.
Abiodun vowed that: “We will ensure no more hiding place for criminals.”
The governor added that following the recent re-launch of the security outfit OP-MESA, criminals have been feeling the heat of the anti-crime battles in the state.
“I will continue to make life intolerable for them (criminals) and I will continue to do it,” he vowed.
On his part, Makinde said the joint security meeting “is the right thing to do and it is absolutely important we do it.”
The Oyo governor said he and Abiodun had defied political party differences and pursued a common goal of fighting insecurity in their states.
