In a decisive move signaling an escalation in its security posture, the Oyo State Government, under Governor Seyi Makinde, has declared its intention to systematically dismantle safe havens for criminal elements across the state. This commitment was formalized during an expanded security council meeting in Ibadan on Wednesday, a high-level gathering that underscores the administration’s holistic approach to public safety.
The meeting’s composition itself reveals the strategy’s depth, bringing together not only state executive council members and military service commanders but also local government chairmen and traditional rulers. This fusion of formal state authority, grassroots governance, and traditional influence is designed to create a unified intelligence and response front.
Governor Makinde, communicating through his Special Adviser on Security, retired Commissioner of Police Mr. Fatai Owoseni, offered residents firm assurances. He pledged that his administration would “spare no cost” and “spare no effort” in securing lives and property, vowing to make the state’s environment fundamentally “uncomfortable” for criminally-minded individuals. This language marks a shift from reactive measures to a proactive, disruptive campaign against criminal networks.
The cornerstone of this strategy is an integrated security architecture that actively incorporates non-state actors. This is not merely theoretical. For nearly three years, the state has pioneered a Voluntary Policing Sector (VPS), championed by local governments. This initiative formalizes and coordinates community-based groups, such as neighborhood watches, under a structured framework. This effectively multiplies the state’s surveillance and local intelligence-gathering capabilities, embedding security within communities rather than imposing it from the outside.
“It is integrating non-state actors into the state’s security architecture,” Owoseni explained, highlighting a pragmatic recognition that official forces cannot be everywhere at once. This partnership leverages local knowledge and presence, creating a dense web of vigilance that is difficult for criminals to penetrate.
On the tactical front, the government has deployed several visible and rapid-response measures. These include positioning patrol teams at strategic locations, conducting joint visibility patrols, and maintaining swift deployment squads designed for immediate intervention. These actions aim to create a constant, palpable sense of security deterrence in public spaces.
Perhaps the most significant operational detail disclosed was the ongoing joint military operation within the Old Oyo National Park. This vast forest reserve, which stretches into Kwara and Niger states, represents a potential vulnerability—a large, ungoverned space that could be exploited by bandits or terrorists seeking a base of operations. By proactively “combing” this area with military partners, the state aims to prevent such an incursion, securing its borders from becoming a hinterland for serious organized threats. This move addresses a critical gap in regional security often highlighted by experts.
While firmly assuring citizens that the state is not under any immediate threat of banditry, the government acknowledged the existence of identified “flashpoints.” The council resolved that these areas would be “thoroughly rid of criminality,” suggesting targeted, intelligence-driven operations are forthcoming.
The initiative received strong endorsement from the traditional institution. Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, the Osi Olubadan, speaking on behalf of fellow rulers including the Olubadan of Ibadan and the Soun of Ogbomoso, lauded the government’s approach and promised continued support. This alliance is crucial, as traditional rulers often command unparalleled respect and intelligence networks within their domains, acting as force multipliers for state policy.
The high-profile attendance of Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal and Secretary to the State Government Prof. Olanike Adeyemo further emphasized the meeting’s significance, portraying security as the government’s paramount priority.
Governor Makinde’s vow, therefore, transcends political rhetoric. It is backed by a multi-layered, evolving strategy that blends conventional policing, military collaboration, community-based voluntary policing, and traditional authority. The ultimate goal is clear: to architect a security environment so inhospitable that criminal activity becomes unsustainable, thereby reclaiming public space for the law-abiding citizens of Oyo State.
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