Date: 2016-08-20

The Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA) in Kwara has renewed its appeal to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and other security agencies to ensure greater security of lives and properties in Omu-Aran and its environs.

The ODA President, Chief Peter Oyinloye, made the appeal at a press conference in Omu-Aran on Friday on the continued suspension of operations in the town by the First Bank, Union Bank and Ecobank since May 2013 over violent robbery attacks on them.

Oyinloye said that the continued closure of the banks had virtually paralysed commercial activities in the town which is the headquarters of Kwara South Senatorial District.

He said that it had been a harrowing experience for students, workers, traders and businessmen in the town who now daily travelled to Offa, Ilorin and neighbouring towns in Ekiti and Osun states for basic banking services.

Oyinloye said that since the incident happened, the association and the paramount ruler of Omu-Aran, Oba Oladele Ibitoye, had made many representations to the banks and the state government without positive response.

He said that since the banks suspended operations, the community had supported the Nigeria Police Force logistically through provision of two new Hillux patrol vans and building of an office for the Police Area Command. In addition, he said, that the community was now building three additional police stations in the three wards of the town and financing local vigilance groups to aid police anti-crime operations.

The community leader said the efforts of the community deserved recognition and appreciation by the both the police and authorities of the affected banks by re-opening the closed branches in the economic interest of the more than 40 towns and villages which they were serving.

Chief Oyinloye assured that the community would continue to support the banks and security agencies for better protection of lives and properties in the domain. Meanwhile, a coalition of the Olomu-in-Council, ODA and the Omu-Aran Youth Forum (O.Y.F) has mobilised residents and management of the Landmark University and the more than 15 colleges in the town for more effective neighbourhood security operations to expose all men of the under-world in their midst.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of ODA, Mr. Ademola Olarewaju, said that the efforts had been yielding fruits with the recent arrests made by the police and the national civil defence corps in the town.