There is no gainsaying the fact that no country can develop or grow economically without peaceful coexistence among its population, and within its borders.
Peace and security is an essential factor of human life. A peaceful and secure environment is critical to every society since it affects all aspects of economic and social development in a country, and it is one of the necessary indices to the realization of human rights. These have direct effects on the creation of sound, competitive and equitable economic development, which ultimately has positive impact on the whole society. We should also remember that the world we live in has become increasingly more complex, with new security challenges developing not just on a daily basis but every other minute—terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping, border line espionage, just to mention but a few.
However, no nation or state can develop or grow economically without peaceful coexistence among its population, and within its borders. The fastest developing nations are among those with the best security structures or architecture, and having peace and tranquillity thriving within them.
Thus, peace and development are in a fundamental sense related to processes of globalisation and global social development. Of particular interest for peace and development is also how local communities are affected by global change and how local actors navigate in a global system, in relation to peace, conflict, security and development.
Leaders should become more aware of the need to integrate security and development programmes in their policy interventions. Strengthening alliance with the local community is important to integrate security and peace building processes collectively. For example fostering responsible and transparent approach in dealing with natural resources, and actions taken in the event of misuse and illegal acquisition of public resources often culminate into protests and further escalates into instability. This must be addressed at local levels.
In Ogun State under the leadership of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the Vigilante Service of Ogun State (VSO) was established On Thursday 13th October, 2011, primarily as a security outfit to protect communities from crimes and theft as the only recognized grassroots security Outfit in the State. As at that time, the late Major Femi Bisiriyu(Rtrd)was the State Commander while the Public Relations Officer of the Outfit was Mr.Soji Ganzollo who was later appointed on May 12th. 2016 as the first State Government appointed State Commander of the Outfit.
The philosophy of establishing the Outfit is to compliment the Nigeria Police Force Ogun State Command's effort in all their constitutional functions and other sister security agencies in the state in order to combat crimes and criminalities, transfer apprehended suspect(s) to the Nigeria Police, Ogun State Command for further investigation and likely prosecution and to transfer apprehended suspect(s) to other sister security agencies according to their mandate.
As part of government measures to ensure its sustainability, Ogun State House of Assembly in 2017 empowered operatives of the Vigilante Service of Ogun State to carry light arms in fighting crimes in the state.This empowerment was aimed to regulate the activities of vigilante groups operating in the state following the passage of the Ogun State Community Social Orientation and Safety Corps Agency Bill.
At a plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Kunle Oluomo, who sponsored the bill explained that, it will assist the state vigilante corps to support the police and other security agencies in strengthening security network in the state.
The Corps Commander of VSO Mr. Soji Ganzallo, opined that the passage of the bill will enhance operation of his operative, pledging to ensure effective training of the corps operatives.
In line with the commitment of the Corp to ensuring they live up to its statutory responsibilities, the VSO as a matter of urgency restructured its organisation to make it more potent in providing adequate security to the people of the State.
Chief Jide Ojuko the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs whose ministry supervises the activities of the Corp pointed out that the restructuring of the Service was imperative for better performance, assuring members of the public that the improved security outfit would help in bringing crime rates in the State to the barest minimum.
He disclosed that unscrupulous elements among the personnel were replaced with honest and competent officers to mount strategic units, so as to guarantee safety of lives and property of citizens at all times, commending the VSO led by Commander Soji Ganzallo, for responding promptly to security challenges across the State. Among other measures put in place by the State Government to make VSO relevant among other security organisations in the State, were the provision of state of the art security gadgets
Earlier, state government also procured Armoured Personnel Carriers which were located across the senatorial districts in the State, in order to fight crimes and ensure safely of lives and properties of its citizenry. As part of government measures to ensure the security of lives and property of the people of the State, Governor Ibikunle Amosun donated no fewer than 50 patrol vehicles to the Police and other security agencies.
This provision would not only serve as a signal for the hoodlums to stay off the nooks and crannies the State, but it would guarantee new investors to come and do more businesses. The government was also determined to provide enabling environment for the residents and investors alike as part of rebuilding mission of his government. Because security to one is security to all, the present administration is determined to ensure that people are safe and investors and investments too are safe.
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