Di All Progressives Congress for Oyo State don blame Governor Seyi Makinde for wetin dem call di increase for kidnappings, violent attacks, and oda security problems across di state. Di opposition party dey call for immediate action to rescue di abducted school children and teachers for Oriire Local Government Area.
According to di APC, di security situation for Oyo State don worsen, and dis one no dey like before for di South-West region. Dem allege say di state government don dey focus on political showmanship and lip service instead of effective security management.
For a statement wey dem release for Ibadan by dia Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, di APC express concern about recent abductions, including di kidnapping of students and teachers for two communities for Oriire LGA, and di abduction of two staff members of di Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) for Idi Ayunre, Oluyole Local Government Area.
Di party accuse Governor Makinde, wey be di Chief Security Officer of di state, say he no take decisive steps to curb insecurity. Dem claim say im administration dey shift blame to di Federal Government while neglecting dia own responsibilities.
“We don talk plenty times say window dressing and populism no fit help for building and sustaining security architecture,” di statement read. “Di current administration start on bad note for 2019 with di disengagement of some critical stakeholders from joint security activities for di state.”
Di APC further allege say traditional rulers and oda key stakeholders don dey sidelined for security coordination, while significant resources dem allegedly spend on vehicles and surveillance equipment without corresponding results. Dem claim say despite reports of procurement of surveillance aircraft, there be little evidence of dia deployment for tackling insecurity for di state.
Di party also criticise di administration handling of di Western Nigeria Security Network, wey dem codename Amotekun Corps. Dem allege poor welfare, inadequate remuneration, and improper deployment of personnel. According to di APC, di corps don dey poorly treated and poorly equipped, wey dey limit im effectiveness for addressing rising security challenges.
Di statement also reference past allegations surrounding di activities of a political group wey dem allegedly link to Mukaila Auxiliary. Dem accuse di administration say dem don previously empower armed elements for political purposes, a claim wey di party say don contribute to current security concerns.
Reacting to Governor Makinde recent remarks advocating di establishment of state police, di APC accuse am of inconsistency, alleging say di governor don previously describe di proposal as a waste of time. Dem recall say for a Channels Television interview, Makinde bin oppose di idea of state police before later supporting am.
Di party also question di management of security funding, including security votes, insisting say di resources no don translate into improved safety for residents.
“Gov. Makinde should sit up and rescue all abductees immediately,” di statement add.
Di APC urge di state government to take urgent and coordinated action to secure di release of di abducted students, teachers, and oda victims wey dey captivity, while calling for a comprehensive review of di state security architecture.
Meanwhile, di National Assembly don decide to fast-track di amendment of di constitution to allow for establishment of state police. Under di 1999 constitution, only federal police dey allowed. Many experts don suggest say permitting each state to establish im own police force na one way to tackle di growing menace of kidnappings, abductions, killings, banditry, and insurgency for various parts of di country.
Di latest attack on schools for Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where primary and secondary school students and dia teachers dem abduct, don generate so much uproar because di South West bin be safe haven before. Di situation worsen when one of di seven teachers wey dem take into custody dem behead. Dis one make di Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, immediately order deployment of tactical and oda special assets to comb di area for rescue mission.
Di incessant raids on Kwara and Kogi communities and churches bin don send warning say di South West states no dey safe. Now, Sunday Igboho, wey once dem declare as outlaw during Buhari administration, don introduce new chapter. He want to be permitted with new outfit to get involved for protecting di people of di South West. Dis one fit be problem if various non-state actors dey brought in without di needed training, weapons, and philosophy of security.
Di older outfit, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), led by Mr. Gani Adams, don equally ask to be given go-ahead to deploy dia men to di six states for di South West and Kwara State. Dis fit introduce complications of coordination, if dem allow am.
Rather, there be di Security Network wey di state governors establish — di Amotekun. E don dey effective for some of di states, especially Ondo, but e fit be more productive if dem well arm am. To do so, e must be better trained, allow am to bear more lethal weapons, be supported with platforms like drones for combing di ungoverned spaces, and be boosted with more men. E must be structured for di various states and work in conjunction with di federal police.
