Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has said the surveillance helicopter purchased by his administration would soon be given the necessary assistance it requires by the Federal Government.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the media aide to the governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the governor gave the assurance when the Police Community Relations Committee paid him a courtesy visit.
The statement confirms earlier claims by the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Gboyega Famodun, who last month accused the Goodluck Jonathan/PDP-led administration of frustrating Mr. Aregbesola’s plan to put the chopper into use to assist security agencies in surveillance.
Famodun said the FG-controlled Nigerian Communications Commission refused to provide the special code for the helicopter to be linked with ground equipment provided by the state government for surveillance.
But Aregbesola said, “With the recent government at the centre, the helicopter we purchased for aerial surveillance will be in full operation with the issuance of the sort code needed for its operation”.
Aregbesola also called on the police committee to treat the issue of cultism with seriousness, noting that the menace must not be allowed to have a firm footing in the state.
He said, “I want all hands to be on the deck to make our state a no-go area for people with criminal intent. Despite our ranking as one of the least state with crime in the country, much still needs be done to get rid of the little criminals still hanging around the state.
“We are among one of the states with the purchase of high numbers of equipment, we have armoured personnel carrier that can convey 20 armed policemen with surveillance camera and other security gadgets mounted on it.
“We are conscious of the fact that without security, there can’t be a state, that’s why our administration is handling security with utmost importance”.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Abubakar Marafa, commended Gov. Aregbesola for providing operational vehicles and other equipment for the police in the state.
The CP, who was represented by Mr. Tunde Showole, said with the numbers of vehicles and other equipment provided by the state government, the police does not have any excuse regarding operation vehicles.
