Authorities of the Oyo State Police Command on Thursday met with stakeholders in Ayete over cases of kidnapping and other unrest in the area.

Worried by the increasing cases of kidnapping in Ibarapa land and precisely in Ayete under Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo state, authorities of the state Police Command on Thursday held a peace meeting with stakeholders in the area.

The Commissioner of Police in the State, Ngozi Onadeko led other senior officers of the command to Ayete where she urged residents to be vigilant and support the police as well as other security agencies.

Addressing the gathering, Onadeko decried the spate of kidnapping in the area adding that Ibarapa land and Ayete to be precise, has been in the news for wrong reasons. 

She maintained that the command has increased the presence of policemen in the axis following increasing cases of kidnapping and other vices.

Onadeko appealed to the People of Ayete and Ibarapa land, in general, to cooperate with the police and provide credible intelligent information that will ensure their safety at all times. 

The Divisional Police officer in Ayete, Emmanuel Ojo, earlier said the crime rate in Ayete and its environs has been minimal before the ugly trend.

Some community leaders who spoke at the meeting commended the authorities of the state police command for the initiative, adding that there is a need for more police surveillance in the area rather than unnecessary checkpoints.

They declared their readiness to support the police and other security agencies in the area in order to ensure the safety of lives and property in Ayete and other parts of Ibarapa land.