ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke has raised alarm over planned attacks on schools and rural farm communities in the state.
Adeleke raised the alarm in a statement by his spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed, in Osogbo, the state capital, on Tuesday.
According to him, the intelligence snippets made available to him revealed a deliberate mobilisation of criminal elements to attack rural areas of the state.
The governor said such reports were alarming and posed serious concerns to the well-being of the people within the state.
He stated that his administration was worried about the reports, adding that those behind the plot were targeting disruption of farming through kidnappings and attacks on rural farm settlements.
Governor Adeleke noted that the schools were being targeted with abductions and attacks to distract the implementation of the Safe School Initiative and the multi-billion naira infrastructure plan in the state.
READ ALSO: How I Managed Osun Palliatives, Resources– Governor Adeleke
He said a meeting of the state Security Council had been summoned, adding that preliminary directives had been issued to school authorities to take precautions to enhance the safety of pupils and students.
Also, Adeleke said he had directed the Food Security Committee to submit an interim report to allow for immediate actions to safeguard farms and secure farmers as the rainy season approaches.
“The Ministry of Education and all educational agencies have been ordered to review safety measures in Osun State schools in line with the Safe School Initiative.
“In specific terms, school principals and heads are expected to clear overgrown weeds in school environments and ensure close liaison with the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) to secure their school environments,” he said.
Adeleke, however, assured the public that his administration had taken proactive steps to secure the schools and farming communities.