Chukwu Obinna 
IBADAN, Nigeria – Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states deploy a joint security force across major highways and urban centres to counter rising banditry and violent crime.
The coordinated operation, described as a “Joint Show of Force,” targets vulnerable corridors, including the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, where criminal attacks have intensified.
The exercise begins in Lagos and ends in Ibadan’s Ojoo axis, involving police, military and other security agencies from the three states.
Speaking after the operation, Oyo State Governor’s Special Adviser on Security, CP Fatai Owoseni (retd.), says the deployment is designed to prevent crime rather than react to it. “Criminals thrive when security is reactive,” Owoseni says. “This collaboration ensures threats are neutralised before they materialise.”
He warns against the spread of false security information on social media, saying offenders will be prosecuted.
Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, advises religious organisations to avoid remote venues for large gatherings and cautions against unauthorised fireworks that could distract security operatives.
Major Adamu Ismaila, representing the General Officer Commanding the 2nd Mechanised Division, describes the exercise as unprecedented in the Southwest. “This is the first large-scale joint security operation of its kind in the region,” he says.
Authorities urge residents to cooperate with security agencies and promptly report suspicious activities.
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