The Oyo State Police Command has raised the alarm over a growing number of drowning incidents across the state, urging residents to exercise heightened caution around water-related environments.
The Command warned members of the public to remain vigilant around rivers, streams, dams, swimming pools, and other water facilities, noting a disturbing rise in reported cases.
In a statement signed by the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the Command said the increase in drowning incidents necessitated an urgent public safety advisory.
The Police called on religious organisations, especially those operating worship centres near rivers and other natural water bodies, to adopt proactive safety measures during religious activities.
It stressed the importance of close supervision and cautioned against allowing children unrestricted access to rivers, swimming pools, wells, and streams.
The Command also reminded hotel owners, resort operators, and managers of recreational centres of their responsibility to ensure that swimming pools within their premises are adequately supervised and clearly marked with visible safety notices.
Operators of such facilities were advised to engage trained lifeguards, swimming instructors, and tutors, while ensuring that rescue and safety equipment are readily available and in good working condition at all times.
Parents and guardians were further urged to remain vigilant and take personal responsibility for the safety of their children and wards.
Additionally, the Police advised owners and occupants of houses with wells to ensure that they are properly covered and securely lidded, warning that damaged or corroded well covers should be repaired immediately to prevent accidents.
The statement added that the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Femi Haruna, has frowned at avoidable loss of life and reaffirmed that the protection of lives remains a core mandate of the Nigeria Police Force.
The new Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Ayodele Sonubi has promised continuous robust policing and a peaceful environment in the state.
The commissioner, who has just been deployed to the Oyo State Command, made the promise at a news briefing at the Police Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan.
Mr Sonubi was until his elevation as Commissioner of Police, was in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, Iyaganku, Oyo State Police Command as the Deputy Commissioner of Police and succeeds the former CP, Mr Adebola Hamzat.
Mr Shonubi noted that he recognized the immense contributions and professional policing principles adopted by his predecessor who has been redeployed to the Counter Terrorism Unit, FHQ, Abuja, which had led to a solid structural framework for policing the state.
The new commissioner said the command under his watch would continue to live up to its statutory responsibility of protecting lives and property without prejudice to background, orientation, philosophy, religion or association.
He called for continued support and promised that the command under his watch would not tolerate the existence of any criminal enterprise and would not also hesitate to identify, isolate and bring to deserved justice any person or group that may attempt to threaten the existing relative tranquillity in the state.
“Worthy of note is that, as part of the modalities emplaced at further securing the space, the Oyo State Police Command has further rejigged its security architecture to accommodate more actionable tools to clampdown on criminal elements through the adoption of a 5-step Action plan tagged “RACAI”; Robust Inter-Agency Collaborations with our Sister services; Amplified Community Policing engagements and Capacity-building for Police Officers through training and retraining; Advanced Intelligence & Technology-Driven Policing & Increasing layers of Supervision for our Officers & Men; Increased visibility Policingand Improved Response time to distress management, Mr Sonubi explained.
He assured the revered members of the fourth estate of the realm of a cordial Police-Media Relationship acknowledging them as worthy partners in the business of perception and image management.
“On a note of Finality, the Oyo State Police Command under my watch shall operate firm and robust security architecture with the assurances of making the state unhabitable for all criminal and undesirable elements. On behalf of the Oyo State Police Command I look forward to formidable partnerships and strong collaborations with residents and all citizens in Oyo State”, the commissioner added.
Our correspondent reports that in cases of emergency, citizens are urged to reach out to the command through these numbers: Oyo State Call Response Center Toll-Free Line: 615, Oyo State Police Command Control Room Line(s); 08081768614, 09054133071 & 09061299291.
Police in Oyo State has paraded a twenty-year-old Tosin Kolade who allegedly raped and killed a seventeen-year-old Ifeoluwa in a Bible Home at Olodo Area of Ibadan.
Kolade was paraded alongside other twenty-two suspects for various offences.
Confessing to the crime, Kolade said he took the key of the Bible Home from his mum’s bag, who, is a cleaner at the church with a knife and waited for the deceased.
He stated further that when the deceased arrived for Bible Study, he threatened her with the knife, raped her and later strangulated her to cover up the crime as he believed the deceased recognised him.
“I, first of all, collected her phone and she was dragging it with me, I pushed her to the floor and banged her head on the wall to weaken her. I later raped her and when she was shouting and calling my name, I break her neck, and used the knife to cut her neck because I wouldn’t want her to report me to the police”.
“It was my mother who saw me with blood that handed me over to the police”.
Also, a notorious suspected kidnapper, Abolaji Abdulazeez was paraded for kidnapping one Mrs Patience Okafor who was conveying her children to school in a Toyota Rav-4 Jeep at Orita Challenge, Ibadan.
The suspect said he whisked her away to an unknown destination from where he subsequently contacted her relatives for ransom.
“I am a kidnapper and I was led to the act through peer influence of friends who were living large and expensive lives”.
The suspected kidnapper, therefore, called on others who are criminally minded to shun the act as he now knew that crime was not good.
Other paraded suspects who were arrested for various offences ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, car snatching, and rape, to murder confessed to the crime levelled against them and pleaded for leniency.
Parading the suspects, Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Adebowale Williams said the command would continue to ensure that stringent and more pre-emptive actions were deployed in the deliberate quest to tackle and bring to the barest minimum all forms of crime and related vices across the nook and cranny of the state.
The commissioner who spoke through the police public relations officer in the State, Mr Adewale Osifeso said the command had begun a crime-free policy through a well-thought-out intelligence-driven offensive, aimed directly at the doorsteps of the criminally minded and unscrupulous elements of the society.
Mr Osifeso said as the country approached the electioneering and the “Ember” period, the Command had synergised with sister agencies and non-state actors, as well as utilizing technological-based options to marshal intelligence into veritable achievements.
“In furtherance of the above, the command’s security architecture would be constantly redesigned to comprehensively cater to the security yearning of the citizens of the state, especially in response to the evolving trends of crime as influenced by per-the-second advancement in technology and criminogenic patterns.”
“To this end, the Oyo State Police Command shall continuously embark on intensified visibility policing strategies, high octane convoy patrols and purposeful intelligence sharing in concert with relevant sister agencies, and constructive media engagements.”
The police spokesperson stated further that the command’s focus would be beamed on correctional facilities, banks, media houses, schools, public infrastructures, major landmarks, business districts, places of worship and recreational facilities for effective policing.
“In the same vein, conscious efforts are made to intensify the demystification of cases under investigation with specific emphasis on; the rights of those involved, precision of facts, availability of overwhelming evidence(s) and stance of appropriate laws with the helpful guidance of the Judiciary”.
“While appealing for continuous cooperation and support from well-meaning citizens of Oyo State, in the areas of providing timely and credible information for improved proficiency, he enjoined all and sundry to jettison all negative narratives and perceptionsabout the police in exchange for trust and arenewed sense of vision”.
“In cases of emergency, the Command can always be reached through these emergency control room numbers: 615 (toll-free) (Oyo State Security Trust Fund), and Oyo State Police Command emergency lines 07055495413 and 08081768614. The NPF rescue me app is also available for free download on both Android and Apple IOS, for Android and iPhone users respectively.”
Mr Osifeso said the suspects would soon be charged to court after proper investigations.
Exhibits found with the suspects include eighteen exotic stolen cars, five mobile phones, six pieces of electrical cables, cartridges, two pump action guns, one locally made gun and cash of over two million naira.
Rasheedah Makinde
Subscribe to our Telegram Channel and join our Whatsapp Update Group
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko directs Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders to clamp down on all unauthorized street carnivals which in most cases are avenues for instigating gang-related violence.
This is contained in a statement signed in Ibadan by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Adewale Osifeso.
The commissioner also warns that the ban on the use of fireworks remains valid and that the command will enforce all extant laws prohibiting its sales and usage during this Yuletide season.
She said further that dealers, traders and suppliers of fireworks are advised against stockpiling the prohibited items and selling to ignorant minors as violators would be severely dealt with and prosecuted.
The statement also urges parents, guardians and leaders wielding various degrees of influence in religious, educational and traditional capacities to warn their wards and protégés against violating this law as adequate sanctions would be meted out.
While re-affirming the command’s commitment to the assurances of sustained levels of relative tranquillity throughout the yuletide and beyond, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police says the command can be reached through these control room numbers, 615, 07055495413 and 08081768614 for quick intervention in case of any emergency.
Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko has assured maximum security as the nation marks the 61st Independence Anniversary on Friday.
This is contained in a statement signed, in Ibadan, by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Adewale Osifeso.
The statement notes that the Command has emplaced adequate security measures to protect the citizenry and ensure the success of all the activities lined up for the anniversary celebration to prevent any untoward situation throughout the period of the celebration and beyond.
It states further that Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, Heads of Tactical teams, and formations throughout the Command have been directed to lead the Independence Anniversary security operations from the frontline.
The police commissioner says the deployed teams are to ensure high visibility and intelligence-driven patrols around the venues of the celebrations, residential areas, and other places of the public resort to prevent any infiltration by hostile elements.
While congratulating Oyo State for yet another October 1st celebration, the police have appealed for the continuous cooperation of all and sundry with the valiant officers and men of the Command towards the crusade against crimes and criminality throughout the nooks and cranny of the state.
Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko has deployed armed officers to the Oyo State Secretariat Ibadan to restore order following the alleged killing of a teenage boy by men of the Amotekun Corps.
Radio Nigeria correspondent who monitored the situation, reports that policemen were also placed at the scene of the alleged crime, Uncle Joe Bus Stop, Mokola, Ibadan to restore normalcy.
Earlier, some angry youths protested to the secretariat with the body of the decease to show their grievances over the alleged killing.
The youths set bonfires at Mokola, Uncle Joe Bus Stop, Parliament Road junction and harassed passers-by during their protest in the morning.
A witness who pleaded anonymity said the deceased, Peter Okafor who was writing the ongoing WAEC examination was also an apprentice with a printing press outfit at the area.
Okafor according to witnesses was working in the early hours of Wednesday when men of Amotekun Corps alleged chased and shot him.
As at the time of filing in this report, the angry youths were still visibly agitated.
Nine distinguished police officers have benefited from the Commissioner of Police Award of Excellence in Oyo State.
The officers were picked from different formations of the Police Command in Oyo State for exceptional performances on the job.
Two out of the nine awardees, Commander Monitoring unit, CSP Sola Aremu and a traffic warden at Ashi area, Sergeant Oludare Ogunola showed their appreciation to the commissioner and promised to be more committed at wagging war against insecurity.
Some of the awardees receiving their plaques
Meanwhile, five newly promoted senior officers were also decorated by the Commissioner of Police in Oyo state, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko at the Command’s Officers’ Mess, Eleyele, Ibadan.
The newly promoted officers ranked from the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police, DCP, to Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP.
Commenting, Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Onadeko who rejoiced with the awardees and the new promoted officers said they should know that to whom much is given, much is expected, hence the need for increased commitment from them in tackling the issue of insecurity in the state.
Mrs. Onadeko promised all the officers and men of the command maximum support to ensure the state is conducive for them to professionally discharge their civic responsibility.
The Commissioner of Police therefore urged those that are yet to be promoted and awarded never to lose hope or relen,t as no good work would go unrewarded.
She added the command was enjoying the cordial police/community relationship of the people of Oyo State and urged the public not to relent in providing useful information for quick interventions in any breakdown of law and order in their communities. Rasheedah Makinde
Commissioner of Police in Oyo state, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko and the State Director of Department of State Services, DSS, Mrs Clara Onika, have commended the effort of officers and men of Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in fighting crimes.
The two services commanders gave the commendation during a courtesy visit to the New Oyo State NSCDC Commandant, Mr Micheal Adaralewa.
In her remarks, the Oyo State Director DSS, Mrs. Onika commended the management of NSCDC for creation of Agro Rangers whose activities have boost food security in Nigeria and intelligence sharing from grassroots.
She noted that the officers and men of the NSCDC are very active, passionate, hardworking and professional in discharging their duties.
The DSS Director also applauded NSCDC for being proactive in the fight against crime and criminalities in the state especially in the areas of Crisis management, Agro Rangers, protection against oil pipeline vandalism, child trafficking and supervision of Private Guard Companies.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mrs. Ngozi Onadeko who said there was no rancour or rivalry between NSCDC and Nigeria Police encouraged all security operatives in Oyo state especially at the level of men to see themselves as brothers and sisters who are meant to perform task of protecting lives and properties of both indigenes and residents of Oyo State.
Reacting, Oyo State NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Adaralewa appreciated the heads of the two organizations and promised to sustain and strengthen the existing relationship between NSCDC and other security agencies in the state as handed over to him by his predecessor, stressing that he has come to Oyo state to work and fight criminality.
In another development, the state NSCDC commandant met operatives in Agro Rangers Unit of the command charging them that it is part of NSCDC’s responsibility to ensure food security by protecting and mediating between herders and farmers in Oyo State.
He urged the government and good people of Oyo State to support NSCDC with information and logistics to fight crime and criminality in the state.
Oyo State Police Command has promised to deploy nine thousand men to maintain peace and order in over four thousand polling units across the state during the coming local government elections.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko made this known while appealing to participating candidates and political parties at a meeting of security agencies with political parties at Police Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.
Mrs Onadeko, who reiterated the police commitment to zero tolerance for thuggery during the polls, stressed that perpetrators would be prosecuted.
In a remark, the chairman Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, Chief Isiaka Olagunju, disclosed that the creation of a Situation Room for monitoring election process in line with his vision to conduct election that would be acceptable to all stakeholders.
The chairman, Inter-party Advisory Committee, IPAC, Mr. Adegbenro Fagbemi represented by the state secretary, Mr. Kabir Akinade urged OYSIEC and security agencies to protect the promised integrity of the process.
Highlights of the meeting was the signing of peace accord by representatives of political parties, with a pledge to ensure free and fair election.
Police have apprehended and paraded the suspected serial killers who have been terrorizing the people of Akinyele Local Government Area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The three suspects were paraded alongside others who were arrested for various offences in Ibadan and its environs.
One of the suspects, a nineteen-year-old, Sunday Shodipe said he was one of the suspects killing females in Akinyele Area of Oyo State and his major work was to kill females for a herbalist who was his master.
He said his mode of operation was to target female victims and attack them with dangerous weapons, robbed them before hacking them to death with a shovel.
Shodipe noted that he had killed more than six people in the area through charms and weapons, one of them an expectant mother named Azizat Somuyiwa at Ojo area.
He said the herbalist always give him five hundred naira and food at the end of every killing but he was later caught in the act when he forgot to use the charm while going for his last operation.
Speaking with the fifty-year-old alleged herbalist, Ajani Adedokun, he denied the allegation and said he had never set his eyes on the alleged killer.
Another suspected killer, Abiodun Olasoji confessed to have masterminded the killing of one Olufisayo Fagbemi who was washing plates at the front of her house at the same Akinyele Local Government Area.
He said he met his waterloo when he was hunting for another victim which he normally used for rituals.
Also paraded was a suspected homosexual twenty-year-old, Ayo Ibrahim who allegedly had carnal knowledge of his seven-year-old brother, Badmus through his anus.
He said he regretted his action and pleaded for leniency as he promised never to do such again.
Similarly, two teenage boys, one fourteen and another fifteen-year-old, were also paraded for defiling a seven-year-old girl who lived very closed to their house.
They claimed that it was the seven-year-old that seduced them when she was hugging and caressing them.
Some of the paraded suspects
13 other suspects who specialised in hijacking motorcycles confessed to the crime levelled against them and pleaded for leniency.
Parading the suspects, Commissioner of Police in Oyo state, Mr Nwachuku Enwonu said the command had since embarked on aggressive and community policing strategies to put a stop to serial killing that occurred at Akinyele Local Government Area.
Commissioner of Police in Oyo state, Mr Nwachuku Enwonu addressing newsmen while parading the suspects
Mr Enwonu said the success was also achieved as a result of the support of members of the community through their information.
The commissioner therefore promised to prosecute the suspects after thorough investigation.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects included 13 stolen motorcycles, several mobile phones, 47 bags of substance suspected to be Indian hemp and a blood-stained handkerchief.
Commissioner of Police
in Oyo state, Mr. Shina Olukolu has warned all the stakeholders in the
administration of local governments in the state to strictly adhere to law and
order.
This is contained in
a statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Olugbenga
Fadeyi.
It notes that the
police is committed to ensure and maintain a peaceful society.
It urged the
respective local government offices and their staff to refrain from acts that
may lead to lawlessness, or shedding of blood, injuries or damage to
property.
It states that the issue of unintended lock jam of the councils will eventually be addressed to the satisfaction of all the groups concerned and in the best interest of the people of Oyo State.
The statement warns social miscreants or criminal-minded individuals or groups to stay clear from the premises of local governments and LCDAs as police will not hesitate to deal with them decisively.
It calls on law-abiding citizens to go about their businesses without the fear of molestation or intimidation.
