The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has reassured residents that the state remains one of the safest in the country despite the prevailing security challenges across Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, the state government said the administration has been able to curtail criminal activities through strategic deployment of security personnel and resources to safeguard lives and property.
Oyelade cited the recent rescue of four commuters who were kidnapped along the Igbeti–Kishi road as a demonstration of the effectiveness of the state’s security network. He explained that the swift intervention by security agencies ensured the safe rescue of the victims.
The commissioner further disclosed that the state government regularly convenes and finances quarterly clearance operations in identified flashpoints as part of proactive efforts to combat banditry, kidnapping and illegal mining activities.
According to him, the operations are led by the Nigerian Armed Forces in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, the Oyo State Security Network Agency, local vigilante groups, verified Fulani vigilantes and park rangers operating within forest reserves.
He added that due to persistent security challenges within the corridor and its impact on communities in Oyo State, the Makinde administration has consistently supported security operations in the area over the past five years.
Oyelade also stated that the government has continued to strengthen the state’s security architecture through the donation of 120 additional operational vehicles, provision of modern communication gadgets and sustained welfare support for officers and personnel of security agencies.
According to him, Amotekun Corps in Oyo State remains the most fortified and well-funded in the South-West region, with 181 vehicles, 450 motorcycles and over 2,500 personnel, making it the largest Amotekun workforce in the region.
The commissioner noted that the combination of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies adopted by the Makinde administration has played a crucial role in preventing criminal elements from overwhelming the state, particularly amid security pressures in neighbouring Ekiti State and Kwara State.
