The executive chairman of Oluyole local government, Engr. Akeem Olatunji, has issued a stern warning against the illegal possession of Government owned or abandoned privately owned properties.
This warning follows a successful operation by a joint taskforce of security operatives in the local government that led to the demolition of a criminal hideout in the council.
The crackdown, orchestrated by a collaborative effort between local government authority and security agencies, targeted clandestine hideouts used by criminals to perpetrate nefarious activities.
Speaking at the demolition site located along Ibadan-Ijebu ode road before Rom Oil, Olatunji noted the place had been a source of concern as the illegal occupants of the landed property had no approval of any form from government authorities when investigations were conducted.
According to Olatunji who noted that the decision to demolish the criminal hideout was reached at the last Local Government Security Council meeting added that the demolished site has been a hideout for criminal elements including kidnappers and armed robbers as well as those engaging in use of narcotics and indian hemps.
The former publicity secretary of the People’s Democratic Party in Oyo state disclosed that a joint security taskforce team had earlier raided the site as part of enforcement of pre demolition notice, unraveling secret nefarious activities at the hideout and rescuing underage pregnant girls, armed robbers, and young criminal suspects who have been duly profiled by relevant security agencies.
The council boss disclosed that despite illegally occupying the abandoned landed property and erecting shanty structures, the local government had written three different notice intimating them to vacate the property without any compliance.
Olatunji emphasized the importance of maintaining law and order within Oluyole stressing that the era of lawlessness in the council was over as his administration is already all out to crackdown on criminal hideouts as well as illegal occupants of abandoned privately owned properties and that which belong to government.
While condemning the unlawful occupation of the abandoned properties, Olatunji stressed that such actions are capable of undermining community safety and development efforts.
“We will not tolerate any form of illegal possession or misuse of public assets. This demolition is a clear message to others at different locations illegally occupying local government and abandoned privately owned assets in our ongoing efforts to curb criminal activities and reclaim public spaces within Oluyole.” Olatunji said.
The executive chairman has also hinted at further joint security operations aimed at identifying and dismantling similar hideouts across the local government area, maintaining that Oluyole will not allow criminal elements to hibernate anywhere in its territory.
Similarly, Olatunji has also warned scavengers to desist forthwith, from littering the roads in Oluyole with empty plastic bottles while lamenting the bad image such action has caused the local government.
While reaffirming his administration’s commitment to fully aligning with the state government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in ensuring full compliance with healthy and safe environment, Olatunji emphasized that Oluyole would not condone any form of lawlessness.
He assured that he remains committed to his electoral promises to domesticate Governor Makinde’s sustainable development agenda at the grassroots in order to bring about cohesion in policy and program implementation for a holistic economic prosperity.