As the 2025 festive season reaches its peak, the Ogun State Police Command has initiated a comprehensive, multi-agency security operation designed to ensure a peaceful and secure Yuletide for all residents and travelers. This strategic move addresses the predictable surge in vehicular and human traffic, as well as the associated risks of criminal activity, that characterize this period.
In an official statement released on Tuesday in Abeokuta, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, outlined the command’s robust strategy. The cornerstone of this plan is the deployment of a joint security force, a collaborative effort that significantly enhances its effectiveness. This force integrates personnel and assets not only from within the Ogun Command but also from the neighboring Lagos and Oyo State Police Commands, the military, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other sister agencies. This collaborative approach breaks down operational silos, allowing for seamless communication, shared intelligence, and a unified response to threats across jurisdictional boundaries.
The deployment is both visible and intelligence-led. A large number of personnel have been stationed along major highways and strategic locations, with particular focus on critical arteries like the perpetually busy Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and the Sagamu–Ijebu Ode road. The operation involves marked and unmarked patrol vehicles, specialized tactical teams, and the leveraging of intelligence assets to proactively deter crime rather than merely react to it. The goal is clear: to ensure the safe movement of people and goods throughout the festive period.
“The State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered the massive deployment of personnel for traffic control and other operational duties,” Babaseyi stated. This indicates a dual-purpose strategy: combating crime and managing the inevitable festive gridlock to prevent accidents and road rage incidents.
Beyond patrols, the command has issued important public safety reminders. DSP Babaseyi reiterated the ban on fireworks and bangers (often called ‘knockouts’), a regulation in place to prevent fires, injuries, and the panic that their explosive sounds can cause, which is sometimes mistaken for gunfire. He urged residents to celebrate responsibly and to cooperate fully with security personnel on duty.
Critically, the police emphasized that security is a shared responsibility. The public is urged to act as the “eyes and ears” of the security forces. Residents and travelers are encouraged to report any suspicious activities or persons immediately through the command’s emergency lines, including the dedicated Gateway Shield toll-free line: 0800 000 9111. This community-policing component is vital for the real-time intelligence that can prevent crimes.
Finally, the spokesperson provided crucial assurance that these enhanced security operations are not a short-term spectacle. “The security operations will continue throughout and beyond the Yuletide season,” he affirmed. This statement is intended to reassure citizens that the increased security posture is part of a sustained strategy for public safety, aiming to maintain the gains achieved during the holidays well into the new year.
Reported by Joy Akinsanya for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi.
