The Area Commander of Iseyin Police Area Command, ACP Akanle Rufus Adegoke, psc, on Thursday, October 9, 2025, convened a high-level Peace and Security Meeting with stakeholders across Iseyin and Itesiwaju Local Government Areas of Oyo State.
The meeting, held at the Iseyin Police Area Command Headquarters, Oke-Aro, Isalu, Iseyin, brought together a cross-section of community leaders including traditional rulers, Seriki Fulani and Hausa leaders, farmers, herders, youth representatives, park managers, heads of financial institutions, and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) from the two local governments under the Command.
In his welcome address, ACP Adegoke appreciated participants for their presence and emphasized that peace remains the foundation for any meaningful development.
“Without peace, there can be no development,” he said. “Many people today are seeking security, but not necessarily peace. Yet, a person who seeks peace will naturally love his neighbour and work for the progress of his community.”
The Area Commander identified injustice, oppression, hatred, and distorted history as major root causes of insecurity, stressing that “in any violent situation, humans bleed, not weapons.” He further highlighted that non-military factors—such as poor parenting, illiteracy, poverty, food crises, land disputes, religious intolerance, corruption, and bad leadership—pose serious threats to the peace and security of the country.
According to ACP Adegoke, the meeting aimed to encourage all stakeholders to see themselves as members of one family working together to overcome common security challenges. He urged participants to embrace love, tolerance, justice, discipline, and mutual cooperation as pathways to lasting peace in the area.
“We must shun hate speech, hate crimes, religious intolerance, and tribal sentiments,” he advised. “Parents must play their roles in guiding their children properly, while citizens must support the Police with credible and timely information to prevent crimes.”
ACP Adegoke listed some of the prevailing security issues within the Iseyin Police Area Command to include:
Kidnapping, Armed robbery, Land grabbing and inheritance disputes, Rape and defilement, Cultism and violent crimes, Cattle rustling, Ritual killings and Car snatching respectively.
He assured that with collective commitment, these challenges can be drastically reduced if all stakeholders remain vigilant and proactive.
The Area Commander also warned against careless sharing of sensitive information, noting that criminals often live among community members.
“They could be our brothers, sisters, co-workers, artisans, security guards, or even family members,” he cautioned. “We must be careful about what we say and where we say it, because sensitive information can easily reach those with criminal intentions.”
He called for increased environmental awareness, discretion in public communication, and stronger community-police collaboration to tackle emerging threats.
In conclusion, ACP Adegoke reiterated that security is a shared responsibility that should not be left solely to the Police or people in uniform.
“Security is everybody’s business,” he said. “Let us work together to ensure peace, stability, and the well-being of our communities.”
He thanked all participants for their meaningful contributions during the interactive session and wished them safe journeys back to their destinations.
