In response to Governor Seyi Makinde’s recent warning about the influx of bandits into Oyo State, security agencies across the South-West have ramped up efforts to tackle the growing threat.
This includes intensified border patrols and closer collaboration between local police forces, Amotekun, and the military to safeguard the region from criminal elements.
On Tuesday evening, an emergency meeting was convened by Oyo State’s security chiefs to formulate new strategies to address the situation. The meeting, attended by representatives from the military, police, civil defence, and Governor Makinde’s security aides, was confirmed by a senior security official speaking to journalists.
Governor Makinde first raised the alarm on Monday, during the 2025 inter-faith service, cautioning that bandits fleeing the military crackdown in the North-West were seeking refuge in Oyo State. He assured the public that his administration would take all necessary steps to eliminate these criminal groups and maintain peace.
The governor reiterated his concerns and called for a concerted effort by the military to intensify operations against terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry. Speaking at the 2024 Base Sociocultural Activities and Veterans’ Parley of the Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday, Makinde emphasized the importance of combatting these threats to protect the country’s economic development. He assured that the state government would provide all necessary support to enhance security across the region.
Meanwhile, Commandant of the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) Colonel Olayinka Olayanju (retd.), stated that investigations were underway into the situation raised by Governor Makinde. Olayanju emphasized that no official position would be taken until further information was gathered.
In a response from neighboring Ondo State, the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, affirmed that security forces were working closely with Amotekun to ensure the safety of the state’s borders. He highlighted the importance of community policing and safety partnerships as part of their strategy to prevent the influx of bandits into the state. “We have our officers stationed at the borders, and we are determined to work alongside Amotekun to ensure the safety of Ondo State,” Afolabi stated.
In Lagos, Commissioner of Police Olanrewaju Ishola assured that the state’s security infrastructure was robust enough to prevent the entry of bandits. He pointed to the peaceful holiday season as a testament to the state’s ongoing security efforts, emphasizing that no security breaches had been reported. “Lagos is safe, and no bandits can enter this state,” Ishola confidently declared.
Osun State’s Amotekun Corps Commander, Adekunle Omoyele, shared that the agency had intensified its operations in strategic areas, particularly along the state’s borders and in vulnerable forest locations. “We are ensuring that criminal elements have nowhere to hide, focusing on surveillance and intelligence gathering to prevent potential threats,” Omoyele explained. His agency’s efforts are concentrated on safeguarding communities in areas such as Owena Ijesa, which have been particularly vulnerable to criminal activities.
In the wake of the alarm raised by Governor Makinde, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has called for increased vigilance across the South-West. Adams urged all governors in the region to take immediate and decisive action to address the security situation before it escalates further. “The South-West cannot afford to be complacent. The situation in Oyo State has the potential to affect the entire region,” Adams warned in a statement issued through his media assistant, Kehinde Akinyemi.
Adams pointed to the ongoing efforts of regional security groups, such as the Oodua People’s Congress and Agbekoya Society, which have been actively involved in regional safety initiatives. However, he stressed the need for urgent action following Makinde’s alarm, stating that the situation must not be allowed to worsen. “We need to act now to prevent more insecurity in the South-West,” he said, adding that governors must be proactive in addressing these threats before it is too late.
The call for vigilance and coordinated action from both state and regional security forces has never been more urgent, as the threat of banditry continues to loom large over the South-West.
