IEDPU Meets DSS, Seeks Collaboration on Tackling Insecurity in Ilorin
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National President of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union, IEDPU, Alhaji Aliyu Otta Uthman, fsi, has appealed to the officers and men of the Kwara State Command of the Department State Services (DSS) to do more towards restoring the age long reputation of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, as a home of peace and tranquillity.
This appeal was made Thursday when the IEDPU National President led a delegation of the Union on a courtesy visit to the Director of the Kwara State Command of DSS, Mr Bashir Abubakar, in his office.
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Alhaji Uthman, who is a retired Director of DSS, said that the Union was increasingly disturbed with the rate and manner with which the peace of the community is being threatened and violated by those he called enemies of progress and development.
The community leader cited the increasing cases of kidnap, ritual killing and cultism which were largely unknown to the people of Ilorin Emirate as he said that the Union was prepared to collaborate with all the security agencies and other stakeholders, particularly the DSS, towards ensuring that Ilorin remains peaceful for all.
Alhaji Uthman also decried the provocative tendencies of a few overzealous evangelists as well as Osun worshippers who are fond of disturbing the peace of the community, noting that the pacific nature of the people of the community was being taken for granted.
He added that the Union had approached the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, and other stakeholders on its observations and felt that it was equally important to also draw the attention of the security agencies to the challenges.
Responding, the Director, Kwara DSS, Mr Bashir Abubakar, who described Alhaji Uthman as a distinguished colleague who had paid his dues, thanked the Union for the visit as he explained that the DSS was working tirelessly towards addressing all the security challenges.
The Director added that the findings of his establishment revealed that the security challenges bedeviling Ilorin were seasonal and that they would soon become history with the support of the good people of the community.
Mr Abubakar noted that kidnapping and other forms of criminality had to do with the partisan politics of the time as he added that the criminals were out to make money from the politicians who they believed were making huge money in preparation for the next general elections that are around the corner.
He added that it was important for members of the public to be security conscious as he explained that security is the business of all.
The intelligence chief enjoined individuals and groups to cultivate the habit of volunteering factual and relevant information on criminals and their activities, saying that most of those who perpetuate crimes are not unknown to the people of various communities.
Mr Abubakar assured that his agency would not only protect the identities of those who assist it with information but would also act on such information swiftly for the good of all.
The IEDPU President was accompanied on the visit by the Union’s National Vice President, ACG Abdulmumini Ayo Abdulmalik (rtd); the IEDPU’s National Secretary, Mr Abubakar Imam; and the alternate Chairman of the Union’s Security Committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Jubril Yusuf.
