YEWA– More troubles and security lapses may erupt in Yewa area of Ogun State as security personnels under the Joint Security Intervention Squad (JSIS) are on the verge of leaving the troubled area over non payment of their allowances.
Recall that the JSIS was set up by the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun in February, 2021 to intervene in the Fulani herdmen-Farmers clashes, while handing over 10 operational vehicles and 20 motorcycles as take off equipments to tackle the menace in Yewa axis of the state.
The squad comprises of the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Directorate of Security Service (DSS), as well as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Abiodun, in his inauguration address disclosed that the vehicles equipped with communication gadgets were to be used for patrol where the farmers and herders’ clashes were grossly affected in the three local governments namely: Imeko-Afon, Yewa North and Yewa South Local Government Areas.
However, in a twist of event, one of the officers attached to the squad stated that since the inception of the joint exercise, their allowances have only been paid for a month and half, which he said have demoralized the officers on the field.
The officer who prefer a condition of anonymity, further revealed that some of the officers have down tools, a situation he said may threatened the peace and security being experienced in the once troubled areas of the state.
“We are facing so many challenges in that area, based on the issue between the Fulanis and farmers in that place. But what really discouraged us is that despite our efforts to curb this criminal activities, the state government has failed to satisfy our needs.
“Based on this, all the officers have been complaining up and down. However, because of the rule of engagement in the para military, we can’t protest.
“I want to therefore urge the concern authorities to as a matter of urgency intervene and pay up all our allowances, plus the arrears” he pleaded.
He however further revealed that despite information in some quarters that their allowances was to be put at N95,000, they were only paid N35,000 and have so far been paid for just one and half months since the inauguration of the exercise.
When our correspondent got in touched with the Special Assistant on Inter-Ethnic Affairs to the Ogun State government, and member of the peace keeping committee, Prince Hadi Sanni, he stated that he was part of the peace keeping commitee, saddled with negotiating and discussing with all relevant stakeholders over the security issues of the area, while the issue of payments and other logistics of the officers is under the Security joint taskforce headed by the SA, Security.
He however advised that the Special Adviser on Security, Mr Olushola Subair should be contacted for update on the issue surrounding the payment and welfare of the officers attached to the JSIS.
When contacted, the Special Adviser on Security however refer our correspondent to call the Commissioner of Police, CP Awolowo Ajogun, who according to him is in better position to give better update on the issue.
All efforts to however reach the Commissioner of Police proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.
