Ogun Amotekun launches CCTV control room to tackle crime

The Ogun State Government on Wednesday restated its commitment to supporting security agencies to fight crime and maintain peace across the state.

The government also stressed the importance of technology in improving real-time crime detection and response, saying the goal is to ensure residents can “sleep with their two eyes closed” while criminal elements are flushed out of the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, made this known during the unveiling of the CCTV control room of the Ogun State Security Network, also known as the Amotekun Corps, at its state command headquarters in Abeokuta.

Mr Talabi, who hailed the ingenuity of the Amotekun Corps Commander, Brig Gen Alade Adedigba (retd.), for setting up the CCTV Control Room, said the government is pleased that the security agency is embracing growth and professionalism and will be supported more to secure the state.

He stated that the importance of deploying intelligence and technology to keep any society safe cannot be overemphasised, saying that he was glad that the leadership of Amotekun not only had foresight but was also thinking progressively to raise the bar in ensuring a safe Ogun state for all.

The SSG said, “When we look at the fact that Amotekun is like a pioneer force that was deliberately set up to help with certain aspects of our security, and if you look at the time they have just been in existence, an initiative like this CCTV control room gives the state government a lot of confidence.

”It goes to show that at least the professionalism that we are expecting, somebody is strategically thinking about it.

“The fact that when the corps grows bigger, right now they have about 2,000 operatives, to administer 2,000 operatives needs some form of technology.

“To also be able to cover our very vast land, we need operatives, we need technology in very critical areas.

“This is a very good concept and I believe that with this in place, then we can start to begin to build on it and expand it. It’s a very good initiative. It’s something that we do. It’s something that will take us to the next level.

“It’s something that will significantly improve security in our dear state. I am definitely impressed with what I have seen so far with the demonstration. The template is good, and we can take it up from here.”

The SSG said that, although there are currently only three centres where the closed-circuit cameras are in operation, the state government is committed to scaling up the pilot phase and ensuring that every part of the state is covered.

Talabi emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among all security agencies, noting that security is a complex process that cannot be entrusted to any single saviour. Therefore, there is always a need for synergy to keep the state safe.

He said, “It is also good for us to emphasise the need for collaboration because we don’t want to take for granted what we have. I believe we have a good collaboration because we meet regularly.

“Everybody exchanges their own views, but we cannot overemphasise it because that is the strength that a state can have.

That is the place of capacity building. That is the place of efficiency.

“So if we then have a situation like somewhere and it happens that the operatives in that area cannot manage it, of course, we are going to call on other agencies. If we need the military, they will also join you in that capacity.

“So we will then agree on how to hold forth until enforcement comes from their own network, from other networks, and whoever is in need. I think that we are getting the right”.

Speaking at the event, the Amotekun Corps Commander, Brig Gen Adedigba, (retd.), said that the establishment of the CCTV control room would help the corps achieve optimal performance and enhance watertight security for the state’s residents.

He explained, “To start with, the interface between security and technology cannot be overemphasised. Security measures implemented without technology will only be reactive. It will be manual.

“But when you interface technology with whatever measures you put in place, it means you are proactive.

“And you can even run on autopilot.

“Therefore, setting up a CCTV control centre is a way to ensure that we enhance our performance in terms of response time, reducing the line of communication.

“For example, I am right now at our headquarters in Abeokuta, and I have a team somewhere in Ogere, which takes about 45 minutes, but when you have a system of this nature, real-time, as something is happening, you are relating to the man on the ground, and he’s responding.

“So you save time, you save life, and you achieve so much. So that is the reason behind the establishment of a system of this nature.”

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