Governor Seyi Makinde has said the recent school abduction in Orire Local Government Area exposed serious lapses in intelligence gathering and information-sharing, calling on residents to cooperate more actively with security agencies.
Makinde made the statement on Saturday during the inauguration of the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) of the Nigeria Police Force and the commissioning of its headquarters in Ibadan.
The governor disclosed that preliminary investigations into the Orire abduction indicated that suspicious movements and unusual activities were not reported to security operatives early enough, 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,” Makinde said.
He stressed that effective security requires strong collaboration between residents and law enforcement agencies, noting that government alone cannot guarantee the safety of lives and property without public support.
Makinde described the launch of the specialised tactical police unit as a strategic response to the increasing cases of kidnapping and violent crimes across the country, especially amid recent security concerns in Oyo State.
According to him, the Violent Crime Response Unit is the first of its kind in the South-West region and reflects the commitment of both the state government and security agencies to strengthen Oyo’s security framework.
The governor said the abduction incident had caused deep concern across the state, extending condolences to affected families and praying for the repose of those who lost their lives.
He also warned that economic growth, investment, tourism and social stability could only flourish in a secure environment where lives and property are adequately protected.
Makinde noted that his administration had continued to support security agencies through logistics, surveillance infrastructure, intelligence-sharing, mobility support and improved inter-agency collaboration.
Commending the professionalism and preparedness of the new tactical unit, the governor described the VCRU as a rapid-response initiative designed to tackle violent crimes more effectively while maintaining accountability and respect for human rights.
He further assured security agencies operating in the state of continued government support and praised the Inspector-General of Police and the Oyo State Police Command for partnering to establish the unit.
“The initiative is federal, but the impact is local,” the governor added.