His Royal Majesty, Oba Sulaimon Adeshina Raji-Ashade, Oniba Ekun of Iba Kingdom, has convened a stakeholders’ security summit aimed at strengthening collaboration between traditional institutions, the police and residents in the fight against crime and other social vices.
The summit brought together senior police officers from the three divisions covering the communities, including CSP Talabi Segun, DPO Iba Division; CSP Oyedele, DPO Isashi Division; and CSP Hauwa Idris, DPO Okoko Division.
Also in attendance were the Baales and Chiefs of Iba Kingdom, Community Development Association (CDA) Chairmen, Community Chairmen and other community stakeholders.
Speaking at the summit, Oba Sulaimon Adeshina Raji-Ashade stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to create a safer and more peaceful environment.
The monarch particularly emphasised the importance of engaging and training children and youths, noting that young people should be connected to productive training and empowerment opportunities that would give them positive directions and reduce their vulnerability to crime, drug abuse, cultism and other social vices.
The Oniba Ekun also raised concerns about drug abuse, calling on community leaders and residents to take the matter seriously and ensure that useful information is promptly passed to security agencies.
He further spoke about the security implications of abandoned vehicles within communities, urging residents and community leaders to pay attention to such vehicles and report suspicious situations to the police.
The monarch also appealed to landlords to play an active role in maintaining security by identifying and reporting persons involved in drug abuse, cultism and other criminal activities within their neighbourhoods.
He noted that security requires collective responsibility and called for stronger financial and logistical support for security agencies. According to him, stakeholders should explore ways of supporting the police, particularly in areas involving security vehicles and other operational needs.
Speaking during the summit, CSP Hauwa Idris, DPO Okoko Division, appealed to residents to establish free and effective communication with the police.
She encouraged members of the various communities not to hesitate to approach the police whenever they have information that could assist in preventing crime.
CSP Idris also drew the attention of stakeholders to the activities of some scavengers, urging residents to be vigilant about suspicious persons and activities and to promptly alert the police whenever they notice anything unusual.
She stressed that effective communication between the police and residents would make it easier for security personnel to respond quickly to emerging security threats.
On his part, CSP Oyedele, DPO Isashi Division, commended Oba Sulaimon Adeshina Raji-Ashade, Oniba Ekun of Iba Kingdom, for organising the security summit.
He described the programme as a welcome initiative capable of strengthening the relationship between the police and the communities.
The Isashi DPO appealed to residents to embrace the principle of “if you see something, say something,” urging them not to keep silent whenever they observe suspicious movements, criminal activities or situations capable of threatening peace.
He maintained that the police require the cooperation of citizens to effectively prevent and combat crime.
Also speaking, CSP Talabi Segun, DPO Iba Division, appealed to CDA and community chairmen to continuously educate their residents about the dangers of drug abuse, which he described as a growing concern in society.
He urged community leaders to keep residents properly informed about the consequences of drug abuse and to immediately communicate with the police whenever they notice anything that could threaten the peace and security of their communities.
The DPO emphasised the importance of intelligence gathering, noting that information from residents can assist the police in taking preventive measures before criminal activities escalate.
The summit therefore provided an avenue for the traditional institution, police authorities and community leaders to discuss practical approaches to improving security, intelligence sharing and peaceful coexistence across Iba Kingdom.
The stakeholders agreed that maintaining peace and security should not be left to the police alone, but requires the active participation of traditional rulers, Baales, Chiefs, landlords, CDA executives, youth leaders and residents.
At the end of the summit, Oba Sulaimon Adeshina Raji-Ashade, Oniba Ekun of Iba Kingdom, reaffirmed his commitment to supporting initiatives that would promote peace and security in the kingdom.
He urged all residents to remain vigilant, support the police with credible information and work collectively against drug abuse, cultism, criminal activities and other threats to peaceful community life.
The summit ended with a renewed commitment by the stakeholders to strengthen community-police relations, youth engagement, information sharing and collective security consciousness across Iba Kingdom.
