The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has reiterated the necessity for effective and efficient intelligence gathering in the country.
Oba Owoade also urged all stakeholders in the country’s security circles to come together and brainstorm in order to ensure enhanced intelligence-gathering and management towards effective combat of emerging security threats.
In a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin gave the admonition on Thursday in his palace when he received the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, and his entourage who were on a courtesy visit.
He urged the police to employ native intelligence services in a bid to effectively tackle critical security challenges confronting the country.
The paramount ruler said the security of any country is critical for development, economic prosperity and democratic principles to thrive, adding that the critical issue is the way a country deploys its strategic security responses to protect its citizens.
“The Old Oyo Empire lasted over 600 uninterrupted years because of effective native internal security. It is important for government to take a holistic view on information gathering as a system for addressing insecurity. It must take into consideration the need to harmonise the roles of law enforcement and security agencies and the need to deploy technologies required for identification of criminal suspects. Three quarters of the universe is in a state of unrest due to lack of effective internal security,” Alaafin said.
The monarch lauded the Oyo Area Police Commander, officers and men of the Area Command for their diligence to duty.
“While we should not allow western education to destroy our native intelligence, there must be holistic synergies among our security agencies on intelligence gathering. Rudimentary principles of intelligence require that certain things need to be known by decision makers to set certain requirements, while field operatives must know what to gather and keep. As a corollary, obtained raw data or information must be evaluated to provide the best possible answers to questions initially asked, while the processed information must be passed on to the authority, who should apply them purposefully to national ends,” he added.
He commended the contributions of the Oyo State Police Command to national security and peace, saying its efforts must be lauded by well-meaning individuals.
“As you work day and night assiduously to checkmate criminalities and criminal activities, in the course of this, a number of your competent personnel were lost in the battle against these criminals. You are doing wonderfully well and must be commended,” the Alaafin stated.
The monarch also made a case for adequate provision of sophisticated equipment and facilities, as well as motivation for police personnel in order to boost their morale and ensure optimal performance. He pledged his continued support and assistance for the Command to rid the state of crimes.
Earlier, the State Commissioner of Police said he was in the ancient palace on a courtesy visit and also in appreciation of the monarch’s contributions towards maintenance of law and order and complementing the police in combating crimes both in Oyo metropolis in particular and Oyo State in general.
