The Commissioner for Women Affairs & Social Inclusion; Hon (Mrs) Toyin Balogun has denounced and condemned the dastardly attack by terrorist elements on the hapless forest rangers and citizens at the Old Oyo National Park located in Oloka village in Oriire local government, Ogbomoso geopolitical zone of Oyo State which led to the loss of 5 Forest Rangers at their duty post
The Commissioner stated this in a release commiserating with His Excellency Governor Makinde, the wives, children and families of the gallant officers felled in the line of duty
She averred that the unfortunate attack on Oyo national park signals a crystalizing security threat which had hitherto been latent
These terrorist elements apparently are part of those fleeing from kinetic attacks intended to demobilize the command HQ and logistics centre of the terrorist nerve centre in the North West who are seeking new forest areas to hide and regroup before launching fully in the South
The location of the National Park and neighbouring communities and the fact that its stretch is contigous with vast and largely ungoverned forest corridors connecting parts of Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi States, where banditry is prevalent gives grave cause for concern
This is because these areas are particularly prone to activities of criminals because of the porous borders and cover afforded by the dense forests
While commending the efforts of the security agencies (both State and Non-State actors) for trying their best despite associated hazards and for their many sacrifices aimed at protecting lives and property of citizens, she also encouraged citizens of those communities stating, “We see you, we appreciate you and the Government led by Governor Makinde is committed to and will continue to support the security agencies to ensure that you are safe and no one drives you away and steals your ancestral lands”
She also appreciated the proactive efforts of Governor Makinde who recently secured approval of the Oyo State Executive Council for the procurement of aircraft to beef up surveillance & Counter-terrorism capacity of Amotekun, noting also the efforts of all his indefatigable Security Aides, State & Non State Actors who form the security architecture of the State and the collaboration across party lines between all South West Governors which led to the creation of the South West Security Trust Fund which we know will ìn the shortest possible time augment the efforts of our troops and aircraft with drone and other requisite technologies that will ensure the complete eradication of these existential threats to South West Nigeria
She further encouraged all citizens to see security as the responsibility of us all, not just the security agencies and to ensure to allays brief their Community Development Association (CDA) Chairmen of any suspicious activities in their neighbourhood who are expected to in turn inform the Vigilante, Amotekun & Police to enable them foil such attacks
The Commissioner also used the opportunity to warn short sighted citizens who because they want to make quick money inadvertently serve the interest of these terrorists by serving as their logistics supply chain through provision & supply of Fuel, Hard drugs, Alcohol and Food items to these terrorists
Terrorists cannot thrive for long without access to these basic essentials and so, any citizen found guilty of aiding & abetting these criminals by providing them with these essentials will be considered as guilty of the rape of our women and girls, murder of our gallant officers, fathers and brothers and turning our children to orphans as the terrorists who perpetrate these terrible crimes
A word is enough for the wise
Hon (Mrs) Toyin Balogun ended the release by praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased and praying that all citizens work collaboratively with the security agencies to rid our land of these criminals, so that we do not lose any more citizen to terrorists
Alhaja Aminat Busari-Adeleke
Information Officer Ministry Of Women Affairs & Social Inclusion


