DSP Durojaiye, representative of the Ogun State Police Commissioner, Edward Ajogun speaking at the occasion.
The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo has made a passionate plea to Ogun State Government to recognise the strategic location of Opeji Town as a border community embroiled in the Fulani menace presently bedevilling the country and make adequate provision for the safety of its people.
Oba Gbadebo made the appeal yesterday while commissioning the newly built Opeji Police Station in Opeji Egba Town of Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The monarch who was represented at the occasion by the Balogun of Ibarapa and the Asiwaju of Egbaland. High Chief Maxwell Olawale Ayinla noted that Opeji being a border town of Ogun State with Oyo State is in the enclave of the area beleaguered by incessant Fulani marauders, killer herdsmen and kidnappers.
He pointed out that because of this, the people of the area cannot afford to play with their security and this explained why they have built a police station by themselves to attract police to the area.
High Chief Ayinla representing Alake of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo at the event. On the right is the Baale of Opeji, Chief Adesina Rasak.
He implored the people in Opeji to note this strategic importance of their town and the visionary leadership of the Baale of Opeji, Chief Adesina Rasak and continue to cooperate with him to make the town great.
He assured Opeji people of the support of the entire Egbaland on pushing for the reconstruction of the road leading into the town from Abeokuta which was built by the defunct Western Region but had now come to disrepair.
Alake praised the Baale of Opeji and the people for their self development efforts and begged the police to immediately staff and utilize the facility.
In his own speech, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Edward Awolowo Ajogun, represented by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Bode Olude, Abeokuta, DSP Durojaiye Olu Joseph said the gesture of the Opeji people is a reassurance that the police is welcomed in the area.
He pointed out that the gesture would also helped to reduce the atrocities the area is noted for.
The police boss assured the people that the police would not lax in the provision of adequate security with their presence.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Baale of Opeji, Chief Rasak Adesina had noted that the former peaceful atmosphere of the town has come to ruin as a result of Fulani menaces hence security can no longer be left to government alone.
He also appealed to Oba Gbadebo to use his good offices to help make the State Government to reconstruct the road leading into the town from Abeokuta which he said was formerly a pride of the old Western Region.
