Vice President Yemi Osinbajo Sunday said intelligence gathering and community policing remain the best solutions to the nation’s security woes.
He also said the federal government was working towards improving the nation’s security apparatus to secure the nation.
Osinbajo said this when he visited Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, to commiserate with him on the death of his daughter, Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, who was killed Friday by suspected bandits along Ore-Akure Expressway in Odigbo local government area, Ondo state.
The vice president spoke as Ooni of Ife Oba Enita Ogunwunsi, a leading monarch in the south-west, said the spate of killings in the region was becoming unbearable.
However, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, cautioned against politicising Olakunrin’s killing.
And from Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, the federal government is overwhelmed by the plethora of security challenges.
The quartet spoke Sunday separately in their various reactions to the killing of Fasoranti’s daughter as well as the current security in the country.
Speaking to journalists in Akure during the condolence visit, Osinbajo described the incident as tragic, saying more than any other time, community policing system and intelligence gathering in securing the country had become imperative.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari, at a recent meeting with the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, the IGP presented a new policy on community policing.
The vice president further said: “One of the most important things in this sort of crime, because they are largely economic crimes, is that people try to make money by kidnapping.
“Another important thing is intelligence gathering; that is why we have the community policing system where policemen would be trained in their own local governments and they would remain there.
“This is as close as we get to the community policing structure that we expect to have while we are engaging the Army so that there will be a bit of more military presence, especially along the roads.”
“We are looking at the whole security architecture and trying to scale up and ensure that we are able to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians.
“Security in a big country like Nigeria, as you can imagine the challenge, is dynamic and we also have to be consistently dynamic to ensure that we are able to beat the challenges as they appear,” Osinbajo also stated.
He expressed optimism that there would be peace and calm as some of the steps taken were beginning to yield the desired results.
Ooni talks tough
Meanwhile, Ooni of Ife Oba Ogunwusi has called on relevant stakeholders in the South-west to stand up and unite against killings by suspected herders in the region .
He spoke in Kota Ekiti, Ekiti East local government area of Ekiti state at the thanksgiving ceremony of Olufemi Bamisile, who represents Ekiti South Federal Constituency 11 in the House of Representatives.
The royal father said Yoruba people could no longer fold its hand and allow people to be killed, saying the trend must trend.
“I call on all the people of Yoruba race at this time to be united. The time has come to end these killings. The killings must end, enough is enough.”
In his sermon, Reverend Emmanuel Abejide of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Ekiti state, said the current security situation in the country was unfortunate.
The cleric warned that unless the leaders put on their thinking cap, things might get worse.
He said: “We have failed so much. Many of our political leaders have failed to develop our potential.
“If God gives you an opportunity to be in a position, it’s by God grace, please use it for the benefit of mankind “.
Also speaking, Hon Bamise said the various stakeholders in the region were already talking, saying the region would defend itself.
“The death of Pa Fasoranti’s daughter is one of the greatest mistakes that ever happened in the South-west. With the step that we are taking, we are moving ahead to stop the killings.”
Tinubu cautions
In another reaction, APC national leader, Asiwaju Tinubu has asked the government and Nigerians to form a synergy to arrest the trend of the nation’s security challenges.
In a condolence letter to Pa Fasoranti, the APC national leader said that would be the best way to honour Funke’s passage.
He, however, called for caution against politicising the tragic development.
“My heart aches with a profound sense of grief and loss over the tragic death of your daughter, the beloved Funke Olakunrin. Unfortunately, some people are eagerly trying to use this tragedy to advance their political agenda.
“I sincerely regret such behaviour for it is wrong and out of place. It does not well fit the moment. This is a time for consolation and genuine condolence.
“Everyone loves and supports you. I am sure that no effort will be spared in identifying the assailants and bringing them to full justice.
“I have been assured by government and law enforcement authorities that the perpetrators of this terrible act will be apprehended and to face the brunt of the law for what they have committed. We have faith that justice will indeed be done.
“But we must seek more than this. All of us who love you must also work together to honour Funke’s life by taking concrete steps to make sure such attacks do not continue to occur against the innocent and the peaceful,” the former Lagos ate governor said.
He described the deceased as an amiable and good soul who did not mean any harm to anyone.
“It is senseless and extremely painful that such a fine human being would be attacked by armed assailants while she was travelling with family members along Akure-Ore road.
“Funke and I shared a happy and close relationship. We regularly exchanged ideas and advice to each other.
“We could speak to each other freely and honestly because of mutual respect that described our relationship. These talks enriched me. I shall miss them.
“I see myself as your son who respects and admires you deeply. It is from this wellspring of affection and emotion that I write this letter,” Tinubu said.
“I too have lost a precious child. I have a sense of what you are going through. Words are insufficient to express my innermost sentiments at this moment.
“All I can say is that my fervent prayer is for God to extend His divine hand in order to lend comfort to you and the Fasoranti and Olakunrin families that only He can provide.”
Soyinka carpets Buhari
Also, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has said failure of the Buhari-led administration to resolve the problems of suspected herdsmen attacks has wiped away the positive achievements of his administration.
Soyinka said the “carelessness and negligence” of the Buhari-led administration in tackling insecurity had led to the death of many Nigerians.
The playwright stated this at his residence in Ijegba, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun state capital while playing host to 85 pupils drawn from all the six-geopolitical zones of the country to mark his 85th birthday.
At an interactive session with the pupils at his private Amphitheatre, he said, “Look at what is happening today, how is it possible for me to say for instance that I am pro of this government? It is been negligent, look at what is happening with the cattle all over the place. That is a security issue which should never have reached this level.
“I am sure that carelessness and single act which has resulted in hundreds of people being killed in massacre, in their farms and their farms taken over, it has wiped away a lot of the positive achievements of the government.
“It is an issue that is so serious and which concerns the welfare of you and me that any carelessness or any failure there is totally unforgivable and unpardonable.
“It is not that one like to criticise for the sake of criticising, NO!, it is just that we believe that there is a minimal level which any government which has been elected to power must achieve to be considered a true representative of the people.”
Soyinka further stressed that the problems of the country have overwhelmed the president, adding that the problems cannot be solved by the present government.
