Ondo Police boss ask youths to shun crime, violence

Youths at Igbotako in the Okitipupa local government area of Ondo state have been admonished to shun violence and other delinquencies capable of leading them into any forms of criminality.

Gbenga Adeyanju, the Commissioner for Police in the state gave the advice on Thursday at a one day Security Summit put together by the Igbotako Community Development Council (ICDC).

Mr. Adeyanju said any youth in the area and the state at large caught engaging in crime to sabotage security efforts would be dealt with according to the laid down rules and law guiding the constitution.

He said the state police command is ready to battle and tackle the incessant criminal activities being penetrated by the disgruntled youths in the area.

The Daily Times learned that the security summit was part of effort at ensuring an end to the increasingly security lapses at had been threatening the community.

The Igbotako community had witnessed crimes in the batches of armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping among others and had raised concerns among residents and stakeholders in the community.

The police boss urged the youths in the community who are into criminal acts to rethink as the security agents have also mapped out strategies to deal with anyone involving in such acts.

“I was so touched and moved when leaders led by Chief Paddy Arikawe and fours others in this community came to my office about two weeks ago.

“They reeled out the criminal activities in Igbotako and I told them I would be at this summit to address the community.

“I want to warn the youths in Igbotako and other neighboring towns that our command is ready to deal with anyone found involving in all these criminal acts.

“The Kabiyesi has given me the names of some groups in the community such as Ojota boys, Idi Aba boys, Lions junction and among others.

“I have offers tips that I will not mention but I want to assure everyone that you would begin to see results of the police intervention in Igbotako any moment from now”, he said.

He later solicited the good supports of the residents in tackling the security concerns in the community.

Paddy Arikawe, Convener of the Summit and leader of the Igbotako community commended the police commissioner for its intervention.

Chief Arikawe bemoaned the cases of kidnapping and cultism in the Igbotako community stressing that security need to be tightened the area.

He urged the parents to cautioned their children against engaging in any crime noting that the Police have been asked to deal with anyone caught troubling the peace of the community.

“We can’t hide our problems in this community any longer because we have miscreants and irresponsible elements among our youths and we want the command to come and save us”.

Omotoye Olusola, a youth leader in the community also lamented the rate of unemployment among the youths and argued that this as forced some of the teeming youths to engage in crime.

Mr. Olusola explained that the summit would help the youths to seat tight and pleaded with the leaders to positively and gainfully empowered them.