With less than two months to the Osun State governorship election, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun State chapter, on Saturday distributed additional operational patrol vehicles to security agencies, describing the move as part of efforts to prevent a repeat of the violence that has claimed lives in the state.
The ALGON Chairman, Hon. Samuel Abiodun Idowu, said the intervention was aimed at improving security operations across the state and ensuring a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the August 15 governorship election.
Speaking during the official presentation of the vehicles in Osogbo, Idowu said the initiative underscored the commitment of local government councils to safeguarding lives and property.
He recalled the killing of a local government chairman, Hon. Remi Abass, during the local government crisis earlier in the year, warning that such incidents must never recur.
“The gruesome killing of our late colleague, Hon. Remi Abass, around February 2025 while attempting to resume work following the favourable Court of Appeal judgment cannot be forgotten so easily,” he said.
“The repeat of this killing and other criminality should not be allowed to occur, especially with the fast-approaching governorship election in the state and future elections in the country. This is why security of lives and property should not be taken with levity.”
Idowu noted that security remains the foundation for sustainable development, stressing that no society could prosper in an atmosphere of fear and instability.
According to him, the distribution of the remaining patrol vehicles fulfilled an earlier promise by the association to support security agencies in maintaining law and order across the state.
He also attributed the initiative to the growing autonomy of local governments, saying greater control over resources had enabled councils to respond more effectively to community needs.
“The provision of these patrol vehicles is therefore not only a security intervention but also a practical demonstration of the effectiveness of local government autonomy in Nigeria, particularly in Osun State,” he said.
He charged the beneficiary agencies to deploy the vehicles responsibly and ensure proper maintenance to maximise their effectiveness.
The Commissioner of Police in Osun State, CP Ibrahim Gotan, who received the vehicles on behalf of security agencies, described the donation as a strategic investment that would strengthen the state’s security architecture.
Gotan said the additional vehicles would improve operational mobility, intelligence gathering, patrol coverage and response time to security threats.
“Today’s event represents more than the commissioning of vehicles; it reflects a collective commitment to strengthening security architecture, improving operational efficiency and enhancing public safety within our communities,” he said.
The police commissioner expressed appreciation to ALGON for what he described as a thoughtful intervention, noting that security remains a shared responsibility.
“These operational vehicles will significantly improve mobility, response time, patrol coverage, intelligence-led operations and inter-agency collaboration in combating crime and maintaining public order,” he added.
He assured residents that the vehicles would be deployed strictly for security operations.
“As beneficiaries of this support, we assure members of the public that these assets will be deployed judiciously, maintained properly and utilised strictly for the purpose for which they are intended, which is to safeguard lives and property and ensure peace across Os↓ State,” Gotan said.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the police and other security agencies to maintaining a peaceful environment where residents can conduct their lawful activities without fear, while also commending the existing collaboration among security agencies in the state.
