Abiodun Declares War Against Kidnappers, Yahoo Boys, Launches OP-MESA

ABEOKUTA - Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State on Friday launched Operation MESA in the state with a warning to make the state unhabitable for all criminals including kidnappers and cyber crimes popular known as "yahoo-yahoo".

Governor made this declaration at the launching of OP-MESA at the arcade ground of the Governor's office in Abeokuta.

Operation MESA is a joint Internal Security Operational platform comprising officers drawn from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and the Department of State Security.

According to the state governor, the Ogun State Government will soon set up its own financial crimes agency to deal with internet frauds and illegal financial transactions, especially, those having to do with kidnapping, ransom taking and advance fee frauds.

 The governor also disclosed that it is working with federal agencies and its Oyo State counterpart in the area of security along the border lines.

Governor Abiodun noted that the high spate of criminality especially kidnapping prompted the government decision, saying his administration cannot afford to leave the safety of the people at the mercy of hoodlums.

He explained that the reactivation of OP-MESA in the state was to complement the existing security outfits in the State to tackle security challenges in some trouble areas of the state where kidnapping has become rampant.

He maintained that the OP-MESA team will traverse the local governments and work closely with the CDAs, traditional hunters, and the Amotekun.

He, therefore, charged members of the security outfit to be disciplined, committed, dedicated and effective in tackling criminals.

He said that his administration would not fold its arms and allow the state to be known for the wrong reasons.

"We will make Ogun State inhabitable for all criminals. The other day, I was in a meeting in Abuja and in attendance was the Chairman of EFCC, and sadly, he said to me that Ogun State tops the list on the 'Yahoo Yahoo Boys'. In my response, I said I am not surprised because Ogun State is the education capital of this country and you will find such around educational institutions and he agreed with me.

"We have decided that we will set up our State Commission that will be targeted towards eliminating these sorts of  financial crimes. Our state commission will collaborate with the Federal 

Commission so that we do not occupy that false place in this area.

We will like to occupy the first in many areas, but not in fraud and Yahoo Yahoo.

Also, he said he had declared war on the resurgence of kidnapping that reared its head on the link road between the state and its neighbours.

"Three days ago, I put a call through to my colleague in Oyo and we have decided that we are going to jointly collaborate in the area of providing security at the border posts between Ogun and Oyo states.

"He has decided that he will lead a team of his law enforcement architecture to Ogun State, so that we can have a meeting of minds and plan the way forward to take out these hoodlums. Ogun will not have a hiding place," he said.

While affirming that OP-MESA was established to fight criminals across the state, he assured the people that members of the outfit would be picked to ensure they have the right discipline as well as ensure that they are committed to their assignment.

The governor further said that the launching of the outfit with fifteen vehicles, two armoured personal carriers and communication equipment would be done on a quarterly basis until the outfit reaches its desired number.

He enjoined the people of the state to take ownership of the outfit by collaborating with the personnel of the outfit for a more secured state.

"Today, we are launching OPMESA with a few equipment, in the first instance. We are providing them with fifteen pick up trucks, communication equipment, two armoured personal carriers; we will be providing them with this support every quarter, meaning that, in the next quarter, we give them another fifteen vehicles, another quarter, another fifteen vehicles until we reach the number that they require.

"I therefore enjoin our people to take ownership of this security outfit by collaborating with it and supporting it. Together, we shall make Ogun State a most hospitable and a conducive place of our collective dreams," he said.