By Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq has harped on the important role both religious and community leaders need to play in putting an end to the seemingly intractable security challenges facing the country.
AbdulRazaq specifically tasked them to be at vanguard of enlightening the people, especially the youths on the danger of engaging in crimes and criminality, like cultism, kidnapping and drug abuse.
The Governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Strategy, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, spoke at a security forum organised by the Kwara State Community Policing, Gambari district, Ilorin, attributed the rising wave of criminality like cultism and drug abuse among the youths to nonchalance of parents in imparting sound moral education in their children and wards.
AbdulRazaq, who noted that his administration has invested a lot of resources on the security architecture in the state, urged both religious and community leaders to complement government’s efforts towards nipping thuggery and other criminal tendencies in their respective domains in the bud.
He tasked traditional rulers and elders in Ilorin Emirate, and the state as at large, to replicate the security programme initiated by the Balogun Gambari of Ilorin in their areas, as always being encouraged by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim-Sulu Gambari.
The Chairman of Gambari District Community Policing, Alhaji Abdullahi Yusuf, while applauding the security agencies in the state for their support to the group, said the event was put up to complement the state government’s efforts in its fight against crimes and to also serve as a veritable forum for the people of the community to deliberate on how to make the society free of criminality and other anti-social behaviours.
The Nationally President of Ilorin Emirate Descendants progressive Union (IEDPU), Alhaji Aliyu Otta- Uthman, stressed the need for parents to properly monitor the movements of their children and the peer groups they keep, adding that all hands should be on deck towards maintaining peaceful coexistence, which the state, and Ilorin Emirate in particular, are known for.
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