By Tope OYEKAN

The Alaperu of Iperu, His Royal Highness, Oba Adeleke Adelekan IDOWU-BASIBO (Odoru V), FIEX, FICMC, has inaugurated a new security outfit for the town, code-named Iperu Community Security Forum.

The forum which has the Ebi of Idena, His Royal Highness, Oba Lukman Oluwadamilare  Adebambo SALAMI (Sebu II), as Chairman, is a response by all the royal fathers in Iperu to the incessant security challenges confronting the town including cases of kidnapping, murder, theft, armed robberies, and burglaries.

At the inauguration, members of the newly-constituted security outfit were unveiled by the royal father with the charge to ensure the safety and security of lives and properties in Iperu Remo and its environs, through active and effective collaboration with existing security agencies such as the Police, Amotekun, and So-safe Corps.

The Chairman of the security forum is the Ebi of Idena, His Royal Highness, Oba Lukman Oluwadamilare Adebambo SALAMI (Sebu II), while the Baale of Ikoji, Chief Hammed ADEWUNMI; and Baale of Sapala, Chief Adeniyi ADEYEMI; shall serve as the Vice Chairman, and Secretary, respectively.

Also inaugurated as members were the Onimeji of Imeji, His Royal Highness, Oba  Kayode OLAYEBO OREMULE-SODA (Gbadewolu I); the Alagbehinsa of Agbehinsa, His Royal Highness, Oba Isiaka Adekanmi OGUNNAIKE (Odumowu I); the Alaregun of Iregun, His Royal Highness, Oba Abraham Adedoyin OGUNFOWORA (Ewu Nla I); and Baale of Liyan, Chief Adeleke ODITAN.

The Alaperu of Iperu, His Royal Highness, Oba Adeleke Adelekan IDOWU-BASIBO (Odoru V), is the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the security forum.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Chairman of the Iperu Community Security Forum, Oba SALAMI, listed the aims and objectives of the forum which include among others, to prevent and control crime within and around Iperu; to promote community policing and engagement; to reduce crime rate by 50% within the first 6 months; to respond positively to security threats and distress calls within ten minutes; to establish a robust intelligence gathering and information sharing mechanism with active collaboration with the residents; and to engage with the community through outreach programmes, patrols, and emergency response services.

Others are provision of training and capacity building for security personnel; ensuring that the four borders of the town with Sagamu, Ilisan, Ogere, and Ode Remo, are well manned and properly  secured.

Furthermore, the security outfit shall carry out a regular and effective security patrol of nooks and crannies of Iperu; and shall handover criminals, including armed robbers, kidnappers, burglars, ritualists, arrested, to the police for prosecution.

While thanking the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo ABIODUN, CON, for his support to the forum, through his donation of nine motorcycles for patrol purposes, the Chairman also enjoined all sons and daughters of Iperu to rally round and support the forum to achieve its aims and objectives.

He listed some of the urgent needs of the forum to include engagement of trained security operatives and volunteers; communication devices; surveillance cameras; vehicles and motorbikes; funding for operations logistics and personnel welfare; community effective participation through reliable information sharing and intelligence gathering; and capacity building and regular training of personnel in collaboration with existing security apparatuses like the Police, Civil Defence Coros, Amotekun, So-safe Corps.

According to Oba Lukman SALAMI, members of the newly-inaugurated security outfit shall be seen in and around the town in their blue uniforms, as he urged the indigenes and residents not to panic or exercise any fear about this, as it is meant to ensure that the town is well secured and protected during and after the Ileya and Ojude Oba Celebrations.

For further enquiries, the Chairman of Iperu Community Security Forum can be reached on +234 808 602 9728.

Meanwhile, the Alaperu of Iperu, His Royal Highness, Oba Adeleke Adelekan IDOWU-BASIBO (Odoru V); the Ebi of Idena, who doubles as the Chairman of the security forum, and other royal fathers, have jointly called on Iperu indigenes, both at home and in the diaspora to feel free to come home and celebrate the Ileya and Ojude Oba festivals at Iperu, as adequate security arrangements have been put in place, to protect lives and properties during this festive period and beyond.