Gov. Seyi Makinde Renews Call For State Police

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has renewed calls for the creation of state police following the recent abduction of teachers and students at three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking on Thursday during the governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly primaries organised by the Allied Peoples Movement in Ibadan, Makinde described the current security situation in the state as difficult and emotionally challenging.

According to reports gathered by RMNews360, the governor said the kidnapping incident had further strengthened the need for state-controlled policing structures to tackle insecurity more effectively at the local level.

Makinde stated that security has remained one of the major pillars of his administration since the launch of the Omituntun 1.0 agenda in 2019.

He recalled that before his administration assumed office, Oyo State had no local security outfit like Amotekun, adding that the regional corps was established as an alternative because states lacked constitutional powers to operate independent police structures.

Makinde Defends Amotekun Initiative

The governor said the establishment of the Amotekun Corps had improved local intelligence gathering and security response across the state, but insisted that more powers were needed to address growing security threats.

According to him, state police would enable governors and local authorities to respond more swiftly to criminal activities within their jurisdictions.

Makinde urged the Federal Government to empower state Houses of Assembly to facilitate the establishment of state policing systems rather than concentrating policing authority solely under the Inspector General of Police.

He argued that decentralising policing would improve accountability, strengthen intelligence gathering and enhance rapid response to emergencies.

The governor maintained that insecurity across different parts of the country had exposed the limitations of the current centralised policing structure.

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School Abductions Raise Security Concerns

The governor’s comments come amid growing outrage over the abduction of pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area earlier this month.

According to reports gathered by RMNews360, gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, Esiele, and LA Primary School during coordinated assaults that left several persons abducted.

The attacks triggered widespread condemnation from education stakeholders, religious organisations and civil society groups, with renewed calls for improved security around schools nationwide.

Makinde assured residents that the state government was working closely with security agencies to secure the safe release of the abducted victims and prevent future attacks.

He also urged Nigerians to continue supporting local security initiatives while discussions on constitutional reforms regarding state police continue across the country.

The debate over state police has remained a major national issue for years, with supporters arguing that governors need direct control over policing within their states, while opponents fear the system could be abused for political purposes.