ODA President-General Advocates Stronger Support for Community Policing to Tackle Insecurity
The President-General of the Okun Development Association (ODA), Ambassador Akenson Rotimi, has called for increased support for community policing as part of efforts to address the worsening insecurity across the country.
Ambassador Rotimi made the call while speaking with journalists in Lokoja, stressing that the prevailing security challenges have continued to create fear and uncertainty among citizens nationwide.
According to him, insecurity has become a vicious cycle affecting communities across the length and breadth of the country, undermining peace, safety, and sustainable development at the grassroots level.
He noted that many rural communities have been deserted by their indigenes, while others avoid visiting their ancestral homes for fear of being kidnapped or held captive by criminal elements.
The former envoy maintained that conventional policing alone cannot effectively tackle the growing security threats, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts involving governments, community leaders, security agencies, and citizens.
“Security is everybody’s business,” he said, adding that community-based security initiatives remain critical to complementing the efforts of conventional security agencies.
Ambassador Rotimi expressed concern over the persistent cases of kidnapping involving people of Okun extraction and the huge ransom demands imposed by abductors, which he described as far beyond the financial capacity of the average citizen.
He disclosed that the ODA has continued to champion advocacy and practical measures aimed at improving security across Okun communities.
As part of these efforts, the association established the Okun Security Trust Fund to provide logistical support for local vigilantes and hunters engaged in community security operations.
The ODA President-General explained that the Trust Fund has attracted the support of several distinguished and respected personalities, including former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, who currently serves as its chairman.
He therefore appealed to sons and daughters of Okunland, as well as other well-meaning individuals, to contribute to the Trust Fund to strengthen grassroots security and safeguard communities from criminal activities.
Ambassador Rotimi urged prospective donors to support the initiative through the designated account number 1028468911 (UBA), noting that collective action remains vital to restoring peace and security in the region.
