Raheem Adedoyin, a former commissioner for information and home affairs in Kwara, has challenged diasporans to support the government’s security initiatives.

Mr Adedoyin made the call in Baltimore, United States, while delivering the guest lecture at the 10th Convention of the Kwara State Association of Nigeria (KSANG), North America.

A copy of the lecture was made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday.

Mr Adedoyin, who decried the security challenges in the country, said the Kwara South and Kwara North Senatorial Districts were among the hardest-hit areas.

He challenged KSANG members to support the government in tackling insecurity in the state.

“KSANG has a role to play in securing our state.

“Local policing has evolved as different communities take measures to secure their communities.

“Your responsibilities are twofold. Each community is adopting self-defence strategies; as individuals, you should key into the communal efforts.

“Donate money, equipment and give logistics support,” he said.

He also urged diasporans to begin their support from their homes and families, extending it to their estates and the wider community.

Mr Adedoyin, a member of the Global Executive Board of the International Press Institute representing Nigeria and Africa, also urged KSANG, as a corporate body, to embrace and support the initiatives of traditional rulers.

“In Kwara South, a security fund has been set up under the auspices of the Kwara South Traditional Rulers Council and supported by the Kwara South Development Initiative (KSDI), led by Dr Johnson Adewumi,” he said.

He expressed optimism that insecurity in the state would come to an end, saying the military onslaught against criminals had intensified.

“More lethal weaponry has been deployed, and the recently recruited and trained forest guards are now in active service in their various local governments.

“Just last week, the Federal Government established a new battalion of the Nigerian Army in Omuaran, Kwara State, as part of its renewed security architecture,” he said.

He said that the state had more than 1,000 forest guards, while another 1,000 were at various stages of processing, noting that no other state government had that number.

“In addition to this, I am aware that the government works with community bodies to build local resilience.

“The Omo Ibile Igbomina and LADDU of Lafiagi can testify to these efforts, which are sometimes played down because of the sensitivity of the issue.

“There is also an appreciable deployment of security gadgets, especially at the level of the State Security Service,” he added. 

(NAN)