Insecurity: Aiyedatiwa backs landlords’ role in grassroots surveillance

…As group proposes summit to tackle kidnapping

…Landlords, government to partner on safer communities

By Tolulope Eniola

Ondo State Governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has backed a proposed initiative to engage landlords’ associations in grassroots surveillance and intelligence gathering to combat insecurity.

The governor described the initiative as unique, noting that landlords’ associations existed across communities and could help monitor the environment and curb crime.

Aiyedatiwa spoke when the Director General and executive members of the Community Policing Community Crime Prevention Initiative paid a courtesy visit to his office in Akure.

He was reacting to a proposal by the Regional Commander, Southwest Community Policing, Olanrewaju Olowookere, for a Community Security and Kidnapping Prevention Summit in Ondo State.

“This initiative is unique in the sense that you’re targeting the landlord association in various communities.

“Because everybody lives in a house, lives in a community and we have landlord association everywhere. So we need to monitor our environment,” he said.

He added that the initiative would go a long way towards curbing crime in communities.

Olowookere said the proposed summit would focus on strengthening community security, preventing kidnapping and promoting peaceful coexistence, with particular attention to landlords’ associations across the state.

He said the summit would bring together landlords’ associations from various local government areas and state government representatives to discuss practical strategies for tackling security challenges, particularly kidnapping, and protecting residents and property owners.

According to him, the initiative would strengthen collaboration between landlords’ associations and the government through community-based security measures, information sharing and crime prevention.

“The programme will also feature a meeting involving landlords’ associations from across the state and government representatives to discuss security concerns and identify sustainable solutions to enhance community protection.

“An award night will form part of the programme to recognise individuals and stakeholders whose contributions support community security, peace and safety,” he said.

Olowookere said the summit, titled *Ondo State Community Security and Kidnapping Prevention Summit*, would be held under the theme, *Strengthening Landlords’ Associations and Government Partnership for Safer Communities*.

He said it sought to promote a safer environment, strengthen cooperation between communities and the government, prevent kidnapping and safeguard the well-being of landlords and residents across Ondo State.

Those in attendance included the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo; and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro.