Oyo School Abduction Exposed Major Intelligence Gap — Makinde

Seyi Makinde has said the recent school abduction incident in Orire Local Government Area exposed a major intelligence and information-sharing gap within communities, warning residents against withholding critical security information from law enforcement agencies.

The governor made the statement on Saturday during the inauguration of the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force and the commissioning of its headquarters in Ibadan.

Makinde explained that preliminary findings from the Orire abduction revealed that suspicious activities and unusual movements were not reported promptly to security agencies, limiting efforts to prevent the attack.

“From what we know so far about yesterday’s incident in Orire Local Government, there is still a big gap in giving timely information to security agencies. When you see strange movements or suspicious behaviour, please report it,” the governor stated.

He stressed that effective security requires stronger collaboration between residents and law enforcement agencies, noting that government alone cannot guarantee safety without public cooperation.

Makinde described the launch of the specialised tactical unit as a timely and strategic response to increasing cases of kidnapping and violent crimes across the country, especially in the South-West region.

According to him, the Violent Crime Response Unit is the first of its kind in the South-West and represents a renewed commitment by the state government and security agencies to strengthen Oyo State’s security architecture.

The governor said the school abduction had caused deep pain and concern among families and communities across the state.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families that have lost their loved ones. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” he added.

Makinde warned that security should never be taken lightly, stressing that economic development, investment, tourism and social stability can only thrive in an environment where lives and property are protected.

He further stated that his administration has continued to invest heavily in security through improved logistics support, surveillance infrastructure, mobility support, intelligence-sharing systems and stronger collaboration among security agencies operating in the state.