The Alepata of Igboholand and Paramount Ruler/Permanent Chairman, Oorelope Local Government Traditional Council, Oba Dr Joel Olalere Olawuwo, Olasorogan IV, has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Oyo State Governor over the safe release of the kidnapped teachers and students.
Oba Olawuwo gave this commendation in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Saturday.
He lauded the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government for working together to solve the abduction case, stating that the seamless collaboration between federal security agencies, Amotekun and Local Vigilantes paid off and showed why traditional defence system should be fused into the country’s security architecture.
He, however, called on the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government not to overlook the serious issues thrown up by the abduction, including the security of schools in rural areas and the need to rethink the use of the Old Oyo National Park.
The royal father also advocated for the infusion of non-state actors and local intelligence into the security architecture of the country.
According to Oba Olawuwo, recent efforts in Igboholand towards solving kidnap cases and curbing attacks showed that non-state actors must be factored into the security architecture of the country, as according to him, they have a great advantage in terms of understanding local terrains.
The Alepata, therefore, called on the Federal and State Government to work on how to infuse local intelligence into security issues, saying that while the creation of state police is a step in the right direction, governments must also strengthen traditional rulers to coordinate local hunters and other non-state actors towards creating a robust security setup.
