Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday disclosed that a new security arrangement would be put in place to secure the state in view of the recent spike in banditry, terrorism and other crimes in parts of the country.
The governor said the government would begin the documentation of all undocumented foreign nationals working with multinational companies operating in the state.
He also said new non-indigenes entering the state for the first time would undergo proper screening by their community leaders to ensure they were not used to orchestrate violence, stressing that government must know their purpose and means of livelihood.
Addressing journalists at Iperu after a security meeting, Abiodun said the measures formed part of proactive steps to safeguard lives and property across the state.
He revealed that about 70 foreigners, mostly from Niger Republic, Sudan and Chad, had been arrested in recent days after failing to provide clear explanations for their presence in the state.
The law enforcement agencies have arrested, within the last three to four days, about 70 persons from Chad and Sudan who cannot even speak English and cannot explain what they are doing here.
We are going to process these individuals with the Nigeria Immigration Service. We will also be calling on our non-indigene communities to be more vigilant so that we know who is here and why they are here, he said.
The governor, who expressed concern over the activities of scavengers, noted that they now posed greater security threat than before.
We discussed the issue of scavengers who have become more of a threat. Law enforcement agencies will pay particular attention to them. We will engage them to ensure they are not being used to perpetrate crimes in the state, he added.
Abiodun said the meeting was convened in response to the countrys current security climate, noting that as Nigerias industrial capital, Ogun received more than five million daily commuters, making it crucial for government to heighten vigilance.
He directed the police to immediately move into areas such as Zanga in Ijebu-Ode and similar enclaves across the state and clear them out, warning that properties used by criminals would henceforth be seized by the government.
Speaking on the recent incident at Ajebo in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, the governor noted that security officers had visited the settlement to verify that its occupants posed no threat.
He also assured them that the states forest reserves would be thoroughly secured to prevent criminals from using them as hideouts
