Oyo assures residents of safety, cracks down on crime

File photo: Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde. Photo: Oyo State Govt

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Oyo State Government, on Wednesday, assured residents of maximum security of lives and property in every part of the state, saying it would spare no cost to secure the people and spare no effort to make the state uncomfortable for criminally-minded elements.

The government gave this assurance at the Expanded Security Council Meeting presided over by the State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting which had some State Executive Council members, service commanders, local government chairmen and traditional rulers in attendance, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, CP Fatai Owoseni (retd), reassured residents of the state that the government would continue to adequately secure lives and property irrespective of the security challenges in the country.

Recent killing and kidnapping incidents in both Kwara and Kogi states that share borders with the South-West region have heightened palpable fear, especially during this yuletide.

Suspected gunmen recently kidnapped Wale Oriade, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in the state, in his office around 7:06pm in Ibadan. The attackers arrived in a blue Micra vehicle with two occupants — a driver and an armed gunman — who forcibly seized Oriade and whisked him away in the same vehicle.

Also, the 2025 President of Junior Chamber International, Ibadan Elite, Ibukun Otesile.was kidnapped by gunmen.

Otesile, is the daughter of the Founder and General Overseer of Jesus is King Ministries, Olalekan Babatunde. She was reportedly kidnapped in front of her residence in the General Gas area of Akobo, Ibadan.

Owoseni noted that the state would continue to collaborate and partner with non-state actors towards achieving integrated security architecture in the state.

He added that despite the challenges of crime and criminalities in the country, the State Government has been rising to the occasion in tackling the challenges by ensuring that patrol teams are located in strategic places.

The Special Adviser also stated that the government has put in place a number of measures to make the state too hot for criminals, which include joint visibility patrols, adding that the state has also activated swift deployment squads.

While assuring that the state is not under any threat of banditry, he added that all areas identified as flash points would be thoroughly cleared and rid of criminalities, stressing that the state would not allow criminal elements to have the last laugh.

“The state, in conjunction with the military, is currently combing the Old Oyo National Park, which is a forest that stretches from Oyo State to Kwara and Niger states, to guard against the space being taken over by bandits and terrorists.”

Expatiating on the collaboration between the state government and non-state actors to secure the state, Owoseni said, “With regards to non-state actors, we have been doing this for a while. It is really a form of partnership between the government and some sectors to secure the state. It is integrating non-state actors into the state’s security architecture. That is basically what Oyo State has adopted. We have an integrated security architecture, where the non-state actors are properly integrated into our architecture.

“I will cite the example of Ibadan, where we have the Mogajis Initiative, which, the Olubadan of Ibadanland chairs and coordinates. Each of the Mogajis coordinates these non-state actors in his domain, and that is also being done in other parts of the state.

“Similarly, the local governments are championing what we call the voluntary policing sector. We started this like almost three years ago, where the local government chairman uses the neighborhood watch initiatives and put them under what we call the voluntary policing sector.

“By the way also, the fringes of the state are shared boundaries. We have been engaging our neighbouring states for a while with a view to securing our borders. There is an initiative on security between Oyo and Ogun states, but Lagos and Osun states have joined that initiative. We held a meeting about two weeks ago to put up strategies on how to secure our shared boundaries. Of course, we are looking forward to a situation whereby we will bring a state like Kwara into the fold as well.”

Speaking on mining activities in the state, Owoseni disclosed that all miners licensed by the Federal Government must align with the rules and regulations of the state and also involve the local communities and the traditional rulers of the environments where they want to operate before they can be allowed to operate.

He stressed that any company that fails to respect the state’s guidelines with respect to protecting the people and the environment from mining hazards would not be allowed to operate in the state.

Owoseni expressed the appreciation of Governor Seyi Makinde to all the service commanders and their agencies for the synergy, dedication and support to the state government on security, urging all residents of the state to see security as a responsibility for everyone.

He charged residents to always call the 615 Emergency Number to report suspicious acts or report emergencies.

In their separate remarks, the Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice, Biodun Aikomo and the Chairman of Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Sikiru Sanda, assured that the government would continue to protect and respect the rights of the citizens within the ambits of the law.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, the Osi Olubadan, lauded the government for the initiative and promised that the traditional institution would continue to support the government to prevent crimes in communities.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal; the Secretary to Oyo State Government, Olanike Adeyemo; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Segun Ogunwuyi; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo; the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja; the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, other traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and service commanders.

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