Osogbo – The Police Command in Osun has said there will be adequate security for tourists during this year’s Osun-Osogbo festival grand finale.
The command’s spokesman, ASP Folashade Odoro, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo on Thursday.
Odoro said that the police was ready to protect lives and property before, during and after the event.
“Police have been on continuous patrol in all the nooks and crannies of Osogbo metropolis and its environs to ensure the safety of the people and tourists alike,’’ she said.
She further reiterated the determination of the police to nip any criminal activity in the bud through comprehensive intelligence gathering mechanism.
“We are seriously strategising our security network to ensure safety of lives and property of everybody in the state, during and after the festival.
“Our men have been on routine patrol since last week and also manning all the entry points in the state to guarantee secured environment for tourists and residents alike.
“Obviously, our intelligence gathering mechanism is all-inclusive, we are not giving chances for any unpleasant occurrence, we want to make it a hitch-free event.
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“It is against this backdrop that we are warning criminals to stay away from the state as police are ready to deal with whoever wants to foment trouble,’’ she said.
Odoro further told NAN that aside the provision of adequate security at the groove, the venue of the event, police would also be at alert on highways and adjourning roads that lead to the groove.
She, however, called for the cooperation of the tourists and residents of the state to make the event remarkable.
The spokesperson also said that the police were synergising with the vigilance group to “strengthen community policing at the grassroots’’.
NAN reports that the Osun-Osogbo festival is an annual event that attracts tourists from all over the world.
It is an event where homage will be paid to the goddess of Osun and sacrifices offered for prosperity.
The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has declared the Osun-Osogbo groove as a World Heritage Site. (NAN)