The Director, International Association of World Peace Advocates, IAWPA, Oyo State chapter, Ambassador Muhammadul-Awal Musa Alongbija has said the State Security Service has been a dependable ally in ensuring global law and order, praising its efforts in tackling kidnapping, banditry and insurgency.

Alongbija stated this during a visit to the Director, Oyo State Command of the State Security Service office at his Alalubosa office, Ibadan.

Alongbija who was accompanied by the State Assistant Director, IAWPA, Mrs Kikelomo Lawal, the State Women Leader, Mrs Bukola Akinloye, two eminent Peace Ambassadors, Mogaji Olatunji Aresa and Engineer Ajadi Abiodun during the visit said the group has been promoting worldwide peace, emphasising the imperative to sustain synergy with the service in all engagements.

Alongbija said: “the State Security Service has been a dependable ally in ensuring law and order, while taking cognizance of its efforts in tackling kidnapping, banditry and insurgency, we deem it necessary to rejig our partnership with your reputable organization as our peace initiatives require security backing. IAWPA recognizes the invaluable contributions of the service to peace building in Oyo state.”

IAWPA State Director also commended the service for its unrelenting efforts towards putting an end to the menace of illegal mining and other organized and cross border crimes.

Contributing, Ambassador Olatunji Aresa noted that the association comprised of leaders of different religious beliefs who are bonded by peace, ensuring harmonious and peaceful co-existence amongst people in the society.

Ambassador Aresa expressed the willingness of IAWPA members to volunteer useful information to the service for uninterrupted peace in the state.

In his contribution, Ambassador Abiodun Ajadi solicited the service intervention in addressing construction sites related criminal acts and disruptive attitudes.

Responding, the Director, Oyo State Command, State Security Service, Mr. T. O. Adeogun, while acknowledging the need to maintain cooperation and alliance as a way of identifying with stakeholders stated that the Service is disposed to collective resolution of issues and conflicts.

Mr. Adeogun appealed to the IAWPA for prompt and true information and sharing to ease intelligence gathering and ensure adequate security of lives and property.

“It is good to have Peace Ambassadors, I will maintain the standard by my predecessor and build more on it, information is critical for intelligence and investigation to nip crimes in the bud”, Adeogun maintained.

He specifically requested genuine information on inter and intra religious crises, non-compliance to Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR by firms, arms smuggling, gun-running, Farmer/Herder crises, kidnapping, terrorism among others.

According to him, the service welcomes advice and would intervene where and when necessary, just as it aggregates information with pro-activeness.

In a similar remark, the Deputy Director, Operations and Intelligence, Mr. Idowu Fayomade described the service as a problem solving organisation with major duty to ensuring peace in all nooks and crannies of the country.

Highpoint of the courtesy visit was the signing of the Register of Honour by the state Director, IAWPA, Dr Musa Alongbija and presentation of award to the Service.