The Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, 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 made available to our
correspondent by the media aide, to the governor,
Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, on Saturday, the governor
said this when the Police Community Relations
Committee paid him a courtesy visit.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in
Osun State, Mr. Gboyega Famodun, had on June 22,
accused the administration of former President
Goodluck Jonathan of frustrating the plan of the
governor 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 cultism must not be allowed to grow 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,
their 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, lauded 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 vehicle and other
equipment provided by the state government, the
police does not have any excuse regarding operation
vehicles.