People of Omu Aran community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, under the aegis of Omu-Aran Development Association, have officially presented two Hilux security patrol vehicles to law enforcement agencies in the state.

Speaking on the occasion at the palace of the Olomu of Omu-Aran, on Monday, the president of the association, Chief Peter Oyinloye, said the presentation of the patrol vehicles was to complement the efforts of the state government in addressing incessant robbery attacks in the area.

It will be recalled that the banks in the community were short to customers after robbers attacked some banks in Omu-Aran on May 14, 2013 between 6:15 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., just as two bank officials and a member of the vigilance group lost their lives and the hoodlums also carted away large sum of money.

The community leader, who said the incident had negatively affected social and economic life of the community, added that people, including students, had to travel a long distance to make financial transaction which, he said, could have been made at their doorsteps.

Chief Oyinloye, who commended the Kwara State government for its fight against crime, particularly through "Operation Harmony," among other security measures, added that government's efforts were being felt through activities of the joint military/police patrol team, which, he said, had the enhanced security situation in the area and its environs.

Also speaking, the state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, represented by his Special Assistant on Security Matters, Alhaji Amusa Bello, commended the community on the initiative, saying that the gesture would not only enhance security of life and property in the area, but also set the community on the path of economic recovery and social regeneration.

The governor also encouraged other community associations in the state to emulate the Omu-Aran Development Association's development efforts, saying "it is only through this collaboration that collective aspirations for development can be achieved, as you all know that the government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility."

Governor Ahmed, who said that security agencies succeeded more with accurate and reliable intelligence, called on Nigerians to provide them with accurate, reliable and timely information that would help prevent, detect and reduce crime and criminality in the area.

He also assured that the state government would not relent in its efforts to make neighbourhoods, communities and towns safe in the interest of the people's welfare and prosperity of all.

In the same vein, Acting Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs Sarah Alade, re-assured the Omu-Aran community that normal banking services would soon resume in the town.

Alade gave the assurance, during the handing over of the vehicles to police.

Represented by the CBN Branch Controller in Ilorin, Mr Monday Olotewo, the acting CBN governor said the bank was aware of the community's social and economic predicament, following the closure of banking operations.

According to her, the assurance was based on the high-level synergy between the community and law enforcement agencies.

The assurance was coming after more than 11 months of cessation of banking operations in the town, following violent robberies that affected some banks in the area.

The Kwara Commissioner of Police, Mr Ambrose Aisabor, in a remark, expressed happiness at the community's gesture and promised to make judicious use of the vehicles.

Aisabor, who expressed optimism over the reopening of the banks in the community, urged financial institutions to furnish the command with useful security tips on how to improve security around them.

The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Ibitoye, thanked Landmark University, Omu-Aran, for donating one of the two vehicles.

"It is our hope that the banks will reopen their doors very soon after this laudable synergy to wipe out crime and criminality from the community," Ibitoye said.