“Ekiti’s Wildlife is Under Watch: Security Forces Unveil ‘Operation Bush Sweep'”
Security agencies in Ekiti State on Monday initiated “Operation search the wilderness” as part of efforts to improve safety and avert criminal actions throughout the state.
The operation, which began on Monday, included personnel from the military, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Services (DSS), and Amotekun Corps, among others.
Speaking to the combined patrol unit at the Police Headquarters in Ado Ekiti prior to the launch of the exercise, the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr. Falade Adegoroye, stated that the operation was essential due to intelligence reports suggesting heightened security offensives against criminal elements in neighboring Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, and Osun states, along with parts of northern Nigeria.
He pointed out that the pressure on criminal groups in those regions could compel them to seek refuge in the South-West, thereby posing potential risks to Ekiti State. He emphasized that this warranted the anticipatory action by all security agencies within the state.
Characterizing the exercise as a proactive step to protect lives and properties, the police commissioner clarified that the special operation would encompass coordinated bush searches, eradication of criminal hideouts, visibility policing, and raids across identified hotspots, especially in border areas.
Adegoroye asserted that the operation would assist in preventing crimes such as kidnapping, cattle rustling, vandalism, and assaults on public facilities and places of worship, among others.
Emphasizing the need to also safeguard farmers returning to their lands with the onset of the rainy season, Adegoroye mentioned that this operation would additionally create a safe environment for agricultural activities by denying criminal elements access to forests and rural communities.
The police chief urged the officers to demonstrate discipline, professionalism, and respect for human rights, assuring Ekiti residents that the operation would proceed with utmost responsibility in alignment with global best practices.
He praised Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the safety of the populace and consistently providing essential support, logistics, and an enabling environment for security agencies to effectively execute their responsibilities in the state.
He noted that the governor’s demonstrated commitment has continuously fortified the battle against crime and ensured the protection of lives and properties throughout the state.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (rtd), characterized the operation as a preemptive measure by the governor to maintain the existing peace and security within the state.
Ogundana elaborated that the government has persistently invested in intelligence collection, inter-agency cooperation, and logistical support for security forces, emphasizing that the operation is part of a larger strategy to ensure that criminal elements do not find sanctuary in Ekiti.
While assuring residents that the Biodun Oyebanji administration will not waver in its commitment to keep Ekiti safe, secure, and conducive for economic activities and harmonious living, the special adviser urged citizens to support security agencies with credible information.
