In spite of the insecurity in the country, Oyo state remains one of the safest .
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, he said that the Seyi Makinde Administration has successfully managed to curtail the activities of criminals because of its strategic deployment of men and materials to secure the state.
The commissioner cited the quick intervention and rescue last week of four commuters kidnapped on the Igbeti/ Kishi road as the latest example of the efficiency of the state security network.
He disclosed that the state has continued to convene and finance quarterly clearance operations in identified security flashpoints as part of proactive measures to combat banditry, kidnapping and illegal mining.
According to him, the operations are led by the Nigerian military but are carried out in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps), local vigilante groups, verified Fulani vigilantes and park rangers operating within the protected forest areas.
Prince Oyelade disclosed that due to persistent security challenges within the area and its direct impact on the safety of communities in Oyo State, the Seyi Makinde administration has been unrelenting in backing operations in the corridor for the past five years.
The commissioner added that the present administration has strengthened the state’s security architecture through the donation of another set of 120 vehicles, the provision of modern communication gadgets and sustained motivation for officers and men of the command, thereby improving security across the state.
He said, “Apart from active collaboration n with law enforcement agencies, including but not limited to the Army, Air Force, and the Police, Amotekun in Oyo State remains most fortified and funded in the South-West.
The corps currently has 181 vehicles, 450 motorcycles, and over 2,500 personnel, the largest workforce among Amotekun corps in the South-West and it is also the highest-paid in the region.”
The Commissioner said that but for the kinetic and non-kinetic nature of Gov Makinde fending off criminals from Oyo state, the siege on Ekiti and neighbouring Kwara would have overwhelmed us.
