Security & Crime
Heightened Insecurity In Oyo State And The N34b Security Vote Question
As it is in many other States in Nigeria, tales of insecurity have trailed the administration of Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, a corporate Czar, who made laudable marks in the oil and gas sector before venturing into politics.
Pre 2019, governor Makinde had solicited for votes, promising the people of Oyo State through a concise manifesto, “ Oyo State Roadmap for Accelerated Development, 2019-2023” with Economy (through agribusiness), Education, Healthcare and Security as priority areas.
However, just after assuming office, a segment of the numerous crises that upturned the innocence of Igangan to the mayhem at Iwo Road and the assassination of an Ibadan On-Air Personality, showed clearly about the renewed upsurge in crime in the 46 years old State.
But an investigation by the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE revealed that the governor has taken measures to enhance safety in the State.
Among other things, the governor, within one year in office, was said to have procured and distributed 100 Rio Kia motor vehicles fully equipped with modern security communication gadgets; operationalised 615 Citizens’ Emergency toll-free lines, streetlights under the Light-up Oyo Phase 1, about 49 JAC Pickup Vans for the new Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron (No. 72 PMF), refurbished 8 Toyota Hilux Pickup Vans and 1 Utility Lorry for the security outfits, enactment of the Oyo State Security Network Agency (‘AMOTEKUN’) Bill 2019 which was signed into law March 10, 2020.
In May 2021, by which time the governor was two years old in office, he had operationalised the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun in Oyo State in November 2020 and recruited and trained 1,500 Amotekun Corps members.
He also expanded and upgraded the Security Control Room and City, provided CCTV cameras in strategic locations in the state and provided more communication equipment for the security agencies as well as more brand new operational vehicles for the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, ‘Operation Burst’ and Amotekun.
However, further investigations indicate that though governor Makinde may have purchased security equipment, the totality of what he has expended in security operations is a far cry from the sum total of his security votes in the past two and half years, raising the questions about his genuine concerns for the safety of life and property in Oyo State.
Unconfirmed report showed that while his predecessor, late governor Abiola Ajimobi ensured safety of life and property with a monthly security vote of N250 million, Seyi Makinde, upon assumption of office, increased the monthly vote to N1 billion, translating to about N34 billion in his 34-month old in office.
Insiders averred that governor Makinde is not truly concerned about the security of people in Oyo State.
Those who spoke to NAOSRE stressed that the young governor is more interested in his second tenure, a development that may ignited the passion to save for elections and careless about the series of unrest, kidnapping, attacks on citizens and killing in major towns and cities in the state due to poor security network in the State especially in Oke Ogun and Ibarapa zones.
However, there have been arguments about the over blown security situation in Oyo State.
This argument is held mostly by the governor’s loyalists who maintain, at every available opportunity, that governor Makinde is a victim of political cross fire, essentially from the camp of opposition.
Though this might sound valid, Oyo State government’s penchant for withholding valid information from journalists rubbishes such argument with many saying that the governor has so much to hide at the expense of the safety of life and property in the State.
This is much so as the request by NAOSRE, “To access documents of the security votes accrual to the Oyo State government in the past two years,” had not yielded any response as of the time of filling this phase one report in the ongoing investigation.
NAOSRE is a body of publishers
and professional journalists from the digital and conventional news platforms, made up of the finest hands in Nigeria’s security reportage.
The association’s goal is to professionally bridge the information gap between government, security agencies and the general public on security related matters.
A 30-year-old man, Ofobuike Damian, has appeared before an Abakaliki magistrates’ court 2 for stabbing his aged mother to death.
Damian, whose address was not provided, pleaded guilty to a count of murder.
The Prosecutor, Mr. David Njoku, Senior State Council, told the court that Damian committed the offences on March 19, 2026, at Ohatekwe, Ukawu, in the Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
Njoku said the defendant caused the death of his mother, Mrs. Onyema Damian, by stabbing her with a knife in the back.
He noted that the offence was punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 33 vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State, 2009.
The defendant, who had no legal representation, told the court that he killed his mother for refusing to bathe him.
“I don’t know what really happened, but I can remember that I killed her over her refusal to bathe me,” he told the court.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Chinedu Agama, ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre, as the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
Agama ordered that the case file and exhibits be forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.
He, therefore, adjourned the matter to April 9.
Tragedy struck in Kano yesterday when a 30-year-old man, identified as Mutawakilu Ibrahim, allegedly stabbed his grandparents, Muhammad Dansokoto and Hadiza Tasidi, to death following an altercation over food.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command, Abdullahi Haruna, said the suspect, believed to have been under the influence of intoxicants, used a knife to stab both victims multiple times, inflicting severe injuries.
The victims were rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, where medical personnel confirmed them dead. Their corpses were later released to their relatives for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
According to the police statement: “On September 25, 2025, at about 9:30 a.m., a resident of Kofar Dawanau Quarters reported that one Mutawakilu Ibrahim, aged 30, had a quarrel with his grandparents, Muhammad Dansokoto, aged 75, and Hadiza Tasidi, aged 65, over a food-related disagreement.
“During the altercation, the suspect allegedly used a knife to stab both victims in various parts of their bodies, causing severe injuries. The suspect, suspected to be under the influence of intoxicants, has since been arrested.”
Haruna added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Homicide Section, for discreet investigation.
He assured that the suspect would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
A missing teenager, Master Lawal Wahab, 16, has been found dead with his heart, wrist and genitals harvested by persons suspected to be ritualists.
The deceased, until his mysterious disappearance, had been staying with his grandmother, before he was declared missing by his father, Mr. Lawal Olumide.
However, his lifeless and decomposed body was discovered along the Old Express Road, Igbile-Ijebu on July 23rd, 2025 with his remains severely mutilated.
The Ogun Police Command, which confirmed the incident, said it is investigating case, suspecting to be a ritual murder.
The spokesperson of the command, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Omolola Odutola, said officers from Omu-Ijebu Division have arrested suspects identified as Salawu Omikansola (25 years) ‘m’, Serefusi Agemo ‘m’, and others in connection with the murder.
Odutola said one of the suspects had made a voluntary confessional statement, which was also recorded on video.
According to her, investigation revealed that the boy’s head, both wrists, heart, and genitals had been gruesomely removed—suggesting ritualistic motives.
The police spokesperson, however, added that the deceased has been buried in accordance with Islamic rites due to the state of the remains.
He said: “The case file, alongside exhibits, is being prepared for immediate transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, for further discreet investigation. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing accomplices.
“The Ogun State Police Command condemns this heinous act and assures the public that justice will be pursued to its logical conclusion.
“We urge citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police formation.”
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