The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) in Oyo State in the forthcoming 2027 general elections, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, has unveiled a comprehensive security strategy aimed at addressing the state’s security challenges, particularly in the Oke-Ogun axis.
Adekanmbi said his administration, if elected, would adopt a holistic and community-driven approach to tackling insecurity by strengthening existing security institutions, engaging residents of affected communities and improving the collection of data on people living and operating in the state.
The APM candidate disclosed this on Tuesday while appearing on Arise TV’s Good Morning Show.
He said his administration would prioritise the localisation of security efforts by involving residents of communities affected by insecurity in the fight against criminality.
According to him, the approach would enable the government to gain better insight into the security challenges confronting various communities while fostering closer collaboration between the people and security agencies.
Adekanmbi also promised to strengthen the Oyo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, to enhance its operational effectiveness and complement the efforts of conventional security agencies.
He said local residents would be recruited from affected communities to support security operations, stressing that people who understand the terrain and peculiar challenges of their communities would play a critical role in improving security.
The governorship candidate further pledged to collaborate with other recognised security organisations operating in the state to ensure adequate protection of lives and property.
He said a coordinated security framework involving conventional security agencies, Amotekun and other legitimate local security structures would help close existing gaps in the state’s security architecture.
Adekanmbi also identified the absence of comprehensive data on some residents and people operating in affected communities as one of the challenges that could undermine effective security planning.
He expressed concern that many people living in the communities were not properly accounted for, making it difficult for the government and security agencies to monitor activities and identify potential security threats.
The APM candidate said his administration would, if elected, introduce measures to ensure proper identification and data collection on residents and people operating within the state.
He explained that the initiative would provide the government with relevant information about the people living in various communities, their activities and movements, thereby creating room for better monitoring and more effective security interventions.
Adekanmbi also emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between the government and critical stakeholders, including traditional rulers and religious leaders, in the effort to secure the state.
He said the traditional institution and religious bodies had important roles to play in promoting community intelligence, encouraging peaceful coexistence and supporting government efforts to protect lives and property.
The APM candidate maintained that addressing insecurity required more than the deployment of security personnel, insisting that a comprehensive strategy involving community participation, reliable data, institutional strengthening and stakeholder collaboration would be necessary to achieve sustainable results.
He said his proposed security approach would be designed to respond to the peculiar needs of different parts of Oyo State, with particular attention to the security concerns confronting communities in the Oke-Ogun axis.