The Ogun State Government on Wednesday unveiled a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) control room at the headquarters of the Ogun State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, in Abeokuta, in a major push to deploy technology-driven intelligence against crime.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, who commissioned the facility, said the initiative underscored the government’s resolve to strengthen security agencies with modern tools to ensure real-time crime detection and rapid response across the state.
Talabi commended the Amotekun Corps Commander, Brig. Gen. Alade Adedigba (retd.), for what he described as “strategic foresight and professionalism,” noting that the development had boosted government confidence in the agency’s capacity to safeguard lives and property.
He said, “When you look at the fact that Amotekun is a pioneer force deliberately set up to support certain aspects of our security architecture, an initiative like this CCTV control room gives the state government a lot of confidence. It shows that professionalism and strategic thinking are already taking root.”
Talabi added that with over 2,000 operatives spread across Ogun’s vast territory, the deployment of technology had become inevitable to enhance coordination, supervision and operational efficiency.
“To administer 2,000 operatives effectively, you need technology. To cover our vast landmass, you need both manpower and technology in critical areas. This is a very good concept, and with this in place, we can expand it. It will significantly improve security in our dear state,” he said.
The SSG disclosed that the CCTV project was currently operating in three locations under a pilot phase but assured that the state government would scale it up to cover all parts of Ogun, particularly crime-prone areas.
He also stressed the importance of synergy among security agencies, saying no single organisation could guarantee security in isolation.
“Security is a complex mechanism. It cannot be handled by any assumed saviour. Collaboration is the strength of any state. Where one agency cannot manage a situation, others will come in, including the military if need be. That is how we ensure efficiency and capacity building,” Talabi said.
In his remarks, the Amotekun Corps Commander, Brig. Gen. Adedigba (retd.), said the CCTV control room would enhance operational performance by shifting the agency from reactive to proactive policing.
“The interface between security and technology cannot be overemphasised. Any security measure without technology is reactive and manual. But when you integrate technology, you become proactive and can even run on autopilot,” he said.
He explained that the system would significantly reduce response time and improve communication between operatives and command centres.
“For instance, I can be at our headquarters in Abeokuta and have a team in Ogere, which ordinarily takes about 45 minutes to reach. But with a system like this, as something is happening in real time, you are relating with the man on the ground and he is responding. So you save time, you save lives, and you achieve so much,” Adedigba added.
He said the surveillance project remained at the pilot stage but disclosed that a detailed report had been submitted to the state government for statewide deployment, with priority attention to identified security black spots.
The Amotekun commander lauded Governor Dapo Abiodun for what he described as his favourable disposition to the growth of the corps, pledging continued collaboration with sister security agencies to ensure safety across the state.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Lanre Ogunlowo, and the Vigilante Commander, Mr Sola Sodiyan, commended the Amotekun leadership for spearheading the initiative, describing it as a major boost to Ogun’s security architecture.
They pledged sustained inter-agency cooperation to keep the state safe.
Background
The Ogun State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, was established in 2020 by the South-West states as a regional security outfit to complement conventional security agencies in tackling crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and farmer-herder conflicts.
In Ogun State, the corps operates across the 20 local government areas, working alongside the police, military, civil defence and local vigilante groups to strengthen grassroots security and intelligence gathering.
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