Oyo State has announced a fresh round of security measures targeted at curbing cross-border infiltration, tackling rising opportunistic crimes, and deepening collaboration with local security actors across its communities.
Speaking on Wednesday after an expanded Security Council meeting at the House of Chiefs, Oyo Assembly Parliamentary Complex, Secretariat, Ibadan, the Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, Compol Fatai Owoseni (rtd), said the session reviewed earlier decisions and aligned them with outcomes from recent State Security Council deliberations.
Owoseni explained that while the nationwide security climate remains troubling, Oyo has managed to sustain relative calm.
He noted what was described as a modest spike in incidents such as abductions, burglary, one-chance operations and other opportunistic crimes, but stressed that the state is confronting these challenges with a deliberate strategy.
“We recognize that the security situation generally in the country appears to be a little bit worrisome and of course Oyo State is also part of this country.
“However, comparatively, we would say that Oyo state is relatively secure, peaceful, calm and safe. This is not to say we don’t have our own shares of some pockets of crimes and criminalities,” Owoseni said.
He added that many of the recent incidents fall under what security experts call opportunistic crimes, often enabled when victims unknowingly make themselves vulnerable.
According to him, the state’s integrated security model, introduced in 2020 as a handshake between state actors and non state actors, remains central to the response.
Owoseni explained that the government has now upgraded this model by moving from quick response to what he called “quick deployment capacity,” placing proactive teams at strategic points across all zones of the state.
“These teams are not just reactive. They dominate the space through visibility patrols and confidence-building operations. It involves a lot of resources, but His Excellency, the governor, has been supportive of this initiative,” he added.
A key part of the council’s resolution according to Owoseni, is deeper engagement with vigilantes, traditional hunters and community-based groups who understand the terrain, especially around border communities and ungoverned spaces.
He said: “Our people at the grassroots are the first line of defense. We have identified fringes of the state through which criminal elements fleeing from other parts of the country may infiltrate. Clearance operations around the Old Oyo National Park and other border forests have been sustained with the support of the governor.”
He disclosed that traditional hunters will join formal security agencies for new clearance operations around forests bordering the Ibadan metropolis, following intelligence about criminal hideouts.
Owoseni also stressed that there is no truth to insinuations that insurgents have taken over any part of the state.
“Oyo State is not under occupation in any way whatsoever. The proactive measures we have put in place are yielding results,” he clarified.
On mining activities, the expanded council resolved that although mining is an exclusive federal matter, operators entering Oyo must align with state guidelines.
“When you get your license and you come to Oyo State, you have to align with the peculiarities of Oyo State. Where local communities and traditional rulers are not carried along, the state will not allow such activities to go on,” Owoseni warned.
The meeting also reviewed herder-farmer skirmishes in Iwajowa Local Government Area and approved support for displaced victims. Owoseni reaffirmed that the state will not tolerate profiling of any group but will enforce the law on anyone who abuses the constitutional right of free movement for criminal purposes.
“No freedom is absolute,” he said. “We will not allow criminal elements to use Oyo State to perpetrate acts of criminality.”
He encouraged residents to report suspicious activity through the 615 emergency line, which handles both medical and security distress calls.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Biodun Aikomo, and Chairman of the Local Government Chairmen in the state, Hon. Sikiru Sanda, assured that the rights of citizens will always be safeguarded while strengthening grassroots security partnerships.
Speaking for traditional rulers, the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, praised the administration for widening the security conversation.
“This forum allows all traditional rulers within the state to be part of the security apparatus,” he said. “We are the closest to the people and the community. With this involvement, I’m sure we will get better results because traditional rulers will now engage their communities and ensure everyone is security conscious.”
He added that the royal institution is fully committed to supporting the state’s efforts to sustain peace and enhance early response to threats.
The expanded council concluded by commending security agencies for their synergy and urging continued collaboration with residents as the state strengthens its security architecture.