A collaborative effort involving the Nigerian Army, the state joint task force known as Operation Burst, Amotekun, and various security agencies has been launched to eliminate criminal elements from the Old Oyo National Park.
Named Operation Stillwater, this initiative responds to escalating criminal activities in the Oke-Ogun area of the state. The park, characterized by dense forests, has been identified as a sanctuary for criminals and illegal miners.
Recurring attacks on officers patrolling the park prompted local residents to consistently appeal to security agencies for enhanced surveillance and clearance of the forested areas. Intelligence gathered by security agencies revealed that the expansive park’s forest was being utilized as a central hub for criminal operations and illegal mining, making navigation within and around it perilous.
Before initiating the operation, the Nigerian Army’s two divisions established an Operations headquarters at Adafila, situated 40 km from Igbeti in Olorunsogo local government area. This facility is equipped with a reconnaissance office, operations room, a command center, and wartime Spartan accommodation for the General Officer Commanding and the Garrison commander.
To display a show of force, the military deployed equipment to Oke-Ogun and sought cooperation from local residents by providing furniture, drugs for schools, and crutches for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the Nigerian Air Force contributed to the operation with two aircraft: an Alpha Jet and a Diamond Reconnaissance jet (DA-62).
State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, visited the operational zone in Igbeti to receive a briefing from military personnel on the ground, including Major General Bamidele Alabi, GOC 2 Division, and personnel from the Nigerian Air Force base.
During the launch of the Armed Forces Remembrance emblem, Governor Makinde stressed the need for proactive security measures, citing the massacre in Plateau State as a wake-up call.
The State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Dotun Oyelade, stated that the state government actively supported the security agencies’ offensive against marauding illegal miners in the Oke-Ogun region. He emphasized the government’s commitment to putting an end to the unauthorized extraction of minerals worth billions of naira, ensuring that both the community and the government benefit from these activities, and expressed the government’s determination to neutralize criminals across all zones of the state.
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