Security agencies in Ondo, on Thursday, embarked on a “show of force” in flashpoint areas of the state, as Muslim worshippers prepare to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir.

The areas included; Alagbaka, Igbatoro, Ore, and Toll-Gate among other points to the boundary of Ondo.

Peoples Gazette observed the movement of patrol vans of the officers of the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, State Security Service, and Amotekun Corps.

The exercise, it was gathered, was part of the measures put in place to ensure that residents of Ondo, particularly Muslims, who are celebrating the Eid-el-Kabir, were secure during the festive season.

Speaking during the show of force exercise conducted in the three senatorial districts of Ondo, the Special Adviser to the governor on Security Matters, Adetunji Adeleye, said the joint security effort was carried out to nip in the bud any form of criminality during the Sallah festival.

“There won’t be any hiding place for the criminals and we are warning them to steer clear of the state before, during, and after the Sallah festival.

“We want to give the general public the confidence that the security architecture of Ondo State is intact,” Mr Adeleye told journalists.

He explained that the exercise was not to infringe on the rights of the people who are going about their normal businesses but to ensure the safety of their lives and properties.

According to him, the heads of the security agencies have already signed a pact to “deal ruthlessly” with anyone or group trying to destabilise the peace of the state.

Mr Adeleye, who noted that the security agencies are ready to face the challenges of protecting the residents, stated that Ondo is no longer a hiding place for criminals.

“We want to reassure the general public that they should go about their legitimate activities and enjoy their holiday. We are very watchful.

“The entire security agencies in Ondo are working round the clock to ensure that by the grace of God, the celebration will be hitch-free for residence and commuters,” he added.

Mr Adeleye, however, pleaded with the residents to furnish the security agencies with credible information about the activities of criminals in and around the state.

The exercise came barely a month after terrorists launched a deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, killing over 40 worshippers during a Sunday service.

The attack was widely condemned by both local and international groups.

Despite the presence of the Amotekun Corps, the intra-city roads in the state are still a nightmare for travellers following incessant kidnappings by Fulani herdsmen who have taken over the major forests of Ondo.