Following a recent spate of robberies and criminalities in off-campus communities largely inhabited by students of the University of Ibadan, the Oyo State Government has vowed to leave no stone unturned in putting an end to the menace.

This was stated on Saturday by a government source noting that the government has already made some efforts towards finding a lasting solution to the security challenge.

A statement made available by the Media Office of the Governor, indicated that as part of measures to address the security challenge, which the Students’ Union of the University also made reference to in an open letter, the state government met with Students’ Union and the University’s security machinery on Friday, 14 January, 2022.

The meeting, he stated, was sequel to an earlier meeting held on January 11, 2022 between the government’s office and the leadership of the UI Students’ Union and NANS Oyo JCC on the same subject matter.

It was noted that attempt by the students’ body to portray the State Government as doing nothing on the security issue as presented in the open letter titled “Address insecurity now, our students are dying,” is uncalled for and unjustifiable, as it did not present the true picture of things regarding the government’s efforts on the matter.

However, it was noted that the meeting held on Friday, which had in attendance the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, Mr. Sunday Odukoya; the students’ body and the University of Ibadan’ Chief Security Officer, reached some resolutions, which are already being acted upon with a view to finding a lasting solution to the menace.

According to the source,  the state government is not unaware of the security situation around the communities surrounding the University, including Agbowo, Orogun, Barika, Waters, Bodija, Ajibode and other areas, noting that parts of efforts made to tackle the situation included the deployment of security agents to the aforementioned areas.

It was added that the state government under Governor Makinde has always placed a premium on the security of lives and properties of all residents of the state and that it would do everything possible to restore normalcy to the affected areas.

The release read in part: “The Office of the Special Assistant to the Oyo State Governor  would like to appreciate the openness of the Students’ Union of the University of Ibadan in making their concerns over the security situation in communities inhabited by some of the University’s students outside the campus.

“The Office, however, condemns the tone with which the message was passed across and the circumstances created by the Open Letter titled “ADDRESS INSECURITY NOW, OUR STUDENTS ARE DYING” and addressed to His Excellency, as they did not present the truth picture of things regarding efforts already taken by the State Government.

“The Oyo State Government is not unaware of the security situation around the University of Ibadan, especially in communities including Agbowo, Orogun, Barika, Waters, Bodija, Ajibode and other surrounding areas. In fact, many efforts have been made towards tackling these issues, which the UI Students Union is aware of. The Oyo State Government deployed many security operatives to the concerned areas on different occasions.

“Equally, as a way of finding a lasting solution to the security issue, on Tuesday, 11th of January 2022, the Office of the S.A. Students Affairs had a security emergency meeting with the leadership of the Students’ Union alongside that of NANS OYO JCC. Different resolutions were made and it was resolved that certain individuals, including all security stakeholders be invited to a meeting as soon as possible. As such, actions were put in motion to make sure that these meetings take place as soon as possible.

“The Office is quite disappointed that these various signs of progress and actions of the government to provide long-lasting security assurance in these communities were not mentioned in the open letter.

“It is quite unfortunate that only three days after the Government engaged the Students’ Union body, the same body published an open letter in which it cast aspersions on efforts of the Governor and painted the government in bad light, as if nothing is being done regarding the security challenge.

“However, in response to the issues raised by the students, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Affairs, the Chief Security Officer of the University of Ibadan and the Students Union Executives of the University had an emergency meeting on Friday, 14 January 2022. At that meeting, different resolutions were reached and actions commenced immediately.

“It is important to note that the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration is deeply committed to ensuring the security of lives and property of all residents of Oyo State and it will never take any issue regarding security with levity. Therefore, no stone is being left unturned towards ensuring that security is assured in the affected areas.

“Also, the Governor is open to productive and progressive conversation with students, but this should be done through refined and unaggressive approaches.”