The governor made the appeal on Saturday while speaking at the Passing Out Parade of the 89 Regular Recruits Intake held at the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has expressed concern over the threat of bandits infiltrating the state from neighbouring Kwara, calling on the Nigerian Army to sustain and intensify its operations along the border areas.
The governor made the appeal on Saturday while speaking at the Passing Out Parade of the 89 Regular Recruits Intake held at the Nigerian Army Depot, Osogbo.
Describing the ceremony as significant to national security, Adeleke said it underscored the crucial role of the military in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity and defending the Constitution.
He commended the Nigerian Army for its decades of service in maintaining both internal and external peace, noting that the Army, working with other services, the Police and security agencies, had remained central to containing terrorism, banditry and communal conflicts.
“For us as a state government, we have enjoyed a very close partnership with the Nigerian Army and the entire military establishment. From my hometown and across the state, our engagement with servicemen has continued to deliver peace and stability,” he said.
Adeleke said Osun had remained one of the most peaceful states in the country largely due to the sacrifices and dedication of the military and other security agencies, stressing that the state government deeply appreciated the efforts of servicemen and women.
He disclosed that troops were currently deployed in border communities between Osun and neighbouring states to carry out special operations aimed at containing banditry and kidnapping.
“Our dear Army Chief, your men are currently around the border towns between Osun and Kwara States conducting special operations to contain banditry and kidnapping. We are very grateful for this support,” the governor said.
While acknowledging the ongoing operations, Adeleke appealed for a sustained military presence to prevent any infiltration of bandits into Osun from Kwara State, describing the threat as real but expressing confidence in the success of the current efforts.
Addressing the newly passed-out recruits, the governor urged them to remain committed to the values and ethos of military service, reminding them that they were joining an institution widely regarded as the heartbeat of the nation.
“You have a duty to remain loyal to the Nigerian Army, the Constitution and the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Adeleke also called on political leaders across the country to prioritise dialogue and consensus-building in resolving governance challenges, noting that political solutions would help reduce tension and ease the burden on the military and other security agencies.
He commended President Bola Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for promoting inclusiveness in governance, saying such an approach would strengthen national unity and stability.
The governor assured that the Osun State Government remained committed to peaceful political engagement and harmony, adding that this would enable security agencies to focus on their core responsibility of protecting lives and property.
The passing-out parade was attended by senior military officers, traditional rulers, government officials, serving and retired military personnel, other security operatives and representatives of the media.
Earlier on Thursday, the Osun State Government confirmed a banditry attack on Ora Igbomina, a border community in the state, disclosing that a military-backed rescue and protection operation has been underway for the past three days.
Governor Adeleke, in a press statement issued on Thursday after an emergency State Security Council meeting in Osogbo and signed by his spokesperson Olawale Rasheed , commiserated with residents of Ora Igbomina over the incident, which he described as a serious security breach.
"Governor Adeleke of Osun state has commiserated with the people of Ora Igbomina over recent banditry attacks, assuring that a military backed rescue and protection security operation has been underway for the past three days."
"Speaking after an emergency security council meeting held on Wednesday evening, the Governor described the Ora incident as saddening and a major security breach even after almost all the water tight pre-emptive precautions already put in place in the last three months."
Governor Adeleke said the state government was working closely with security agencies to ensure the rescue of victims and prevent a recurrence, particularly in border communities.