ABEOKUTA – A Non-profit organization, Peace Initiative Network has faulted the claim of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun that Ogun state remain most peaceful state in Nigeria.
Egbetokun had last week Thursday during a working visit to Ogun state praised Governor Abiodun’s innovative idea in the purchase of drones to combat crimes in the state, noting that the gesture would further enhance the security of the state, even as he called on other states to take the same step to ensure the security of their people.
He described the Gateway state as the most peaceful in Nigeria considering the rave of crimes in some other part of the country.
But the Project Manager of Peace Initiative Network, Mr. Ola Barnabas faulted the IGP’s claim, saying Ogun state remains the capital of cyber crime in Nigeria.
He emphasized that there was no in Nigeria that has high Cyber crime rate than Ogun state.
Addressing journalists in Abeokuta on Thursday at a press conference to kick start its empowerment programmes in the three senatorial districts of the Ogun state, Barnabas noted the Southern states have ways of hiding their problems unlike the North who speak out to the World and attract all sorts of help immediately.
He said the state has pockets of problems confronting her, but pretended everything was right
Meanwhile, the foundation has said it would train at least 40 renounced cultists in the month of May, 2024 in Ogun State.
The founder of the group, Dr. Michael Sodipo said the foundation would partner with the Ogun state Police Command to see how to fully engage the ex-cultists to become useful members of the society.
The Encounter News reported that, about 48 youths last month, publicly renounced their membership of various secret cult groups in the Sagamu township area of Ogun State.
The development followed several engagements between security operatives and community leaders in the state.
The ex-cultists also surrendered their illegally acquired weapons, used in their nefarious activities to the state police command at an event which held at the palace of the Akarigbo of Remo land, Oba Babatunde Ajayi.
THE ENCOUNTER NEWS gathered that the move was to enable the surrendered cult members to benefit from the amnesty programme initiated by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
But the Peace Initiative Network said the foundation would train them on vocational skills such Carpentry, Vulcanizing, Catering services, tailoring and hair dressing.
The move was to contribute to the reduction of social vices in the society.
He said the group would monitor and establish them in their chosen vocational skills programmes.
Dr. Sodipo explained that the foundation is in Abeokuta to establish a project called “Creating A Safer Community” in Ogun state.
He stressed that the foundation founded in 2004 is using sports to preach peace in the society by engaging public schools on extra curricular activities.
Dr. Sodipo who recounted the foundation’s successes in the North, emphasized that their engagement with some notorious bandits has drastically reduced Electoral violence in the northern part of the country.
He disclosed that, on Monday and Tuesday, April 30, there will be a summit for the community leaders, religious groups and youths at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta to talk about using local solutions to solve local problems.
He said the two-day workshop would help to support insecurity and peace building in the state.
He said the group would also move to Sagamu and Ayetoro area of the state for another two-day specialized workshops for young people and women on basic training on Peace building, early warning and leadership skills which will serve as vanguard for the group in the communities.
