Adeleke Alerts Authorities Over Planned Attacks Targeting Schools and Farms

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has raised the alarm over planned attacks on schools and rural farm communities in the state.

The governor raised the alarm in a statement by his spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed, yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital.

Adeleke said 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 said 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.

Adeleke said 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.

The governor, who said a meeting of the state Security Council had been summoned, added that preliminary directives had been issued to school authorities to take precautions to enhance the safety of pupils and students.

Adeleke also 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 assured the public that his administration had taken proactive steps to secure the schools and farming communities.