Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has declared that bandits operating within the state’s forest reserves are now under intense pressure due to heightened security operations aimed at flushing out criminal elements.
Speaking during an interactive session with youth groups in Akure on Tuesday, the governor assured residents that his administration remains committed to ensuring the safety of all citizens and restoring peace to rural communities.
“We will not allow criminals to find comfort in our state. Right now, those who recently infiltrated our forests and farmsteads are feeling the heat. We are working with security agencies to smoke them out completely,” Aiyedatiwa said.
The governor stated that while law-abiding citizens are guaranteed protection, criminal elements will face the full weight of the law.
Describing the youth as the backbone of the state’s development, Aiyedatiwa outlined several initiatives aimed at empowering them, including the payment of WAEC and NABTEB fees, scholarships and bursaries for students, the recruitment of over 2,000 teachers, and renovation of schools across the state.
He encouraged the youth to seize the opportunities created by his administration and avoid acts that could undermine the state’s progress.
