By Kolawole Omotola Olaide
Governor of Oyo State has disclosed that more than 200 operatives of the state-owned security outfit, , have lost their lives while battling criminal activities across the state.
Makinde made the revelation during a visit to families of victims abducted from three schools in the Oriire area of Ogbomoso on May 15. The governor expressed concern over the worsening security situation and called for collective efforts to tackle the challenge.
According to him, insecurity should not be politicised, stressing that all levels of government and citizens must work together to secure the release of the kidnapped students and teachers.
“This is not the time to engage in blame games. What is important now is for everyone to unite and ensure that our children and their teachers return safely,” the governor said.
He assured affected families that his administration would continue to deploy every available resource to rescue the victims and bring those responsible to justice.
Makinde also paid tribute to security personnel who have died in the line of duty, particularly members of Amotekun, noting that many of their sacrifices often go unnoticed by the public.
“For the Amotekun corps, we have lost more than 200 operatives. Many went out on security operations and never returned. We pray for an end to the bloodshed and violence affecting our state and the nation,” he stated.
The governor acknowledged public concerns over insecurity and government policies, including restrictions placed on commercial motorcycle operations in some areas. However, he maintained that security agencies and local security outfits remain committed to combating kidnapping, banditry and communal conflicts.
Speaking at a political gathering in Ibadan earlier, Makinde renewed his call for the establishment of state police, arguing that Amotekun was created because repeated demands for decentralised policing had not been granted.
“We advocated for state police, but since that was not approved, we established Amotekun to strengthen local security,” he said.
He urged the Federal Government to accelerate reforms aimed at improving Nigeria’s security architecture, insisting that stronger community-based policing structures are needed to address emerging threats effectively.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property while working closely with security agencies to restore peace and safety across Oyo State.
This version is rewritten in a newspaper style suitable for publication and credited to Kolawole Omotola Olaide.
