By Adesakin Adefemi
The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has again accused Governor Seyi Makinde of failing to address the surge in kidnappings, murders, hoodlum attacks, and other violent crimes plaguing the state.
In a statement issued on Friday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC said Oyo is witnessing a worsening security situation compared with other states in the South-West. The party linked the trend to what it described as the governor’s reliance on lip service, political rhetoric, and showmanship.
The APC criticised Makinde for allegedly shifting blame to the federal government while neglecting his constitutional responsibility as the state’s Chief Security Officer. The party said human life and public safety should not be made subjects of political contests.
The latest criticism comes after coordinated attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area penultimate Friday. Scores of teachers and students were reportedly abducted from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School, Esiele.
Governor Makinde on Thursday expressed concern over the abductions, describing the period as a tough one for himself and for the state. During the Allied Peoples Movement primaries in Ibadan, he also urged the federal government to empower state Houses of Assembly to create state police rather than leave the responsibility with the Inspector-General of Police.
The APC rejected the governor’s position, recalling that Makinde previously dismissed the push for state police as a waste of time. The party cited a March 2024 request by the Federal Government in which 16 governors submitted memoranda on modalities for state police, while Oyo was among those that delayed.
According to the APC, Makinde later told Channels TV that he did not submit a memorandum and that he considered the exercise pointless. The party said it was contradictory for the governor to now call for state police while receiving monthly security votes running into billions of naira.
The statement also faulted the Makinde administration for disengaging critical stakeholders from joint security operations since 2019. It claimed traditional rulers and other relevant institutions have been sidelined, while resources were channelled to purchasing luxury vehicles for some security agencies.
The APC further alleged that N8 billion was spent on surveillance aircraft since July 2025 with no visible results, and that Amotekun operatives in Oyo suffer poor salaries, lack of welfare, and no insurance or retirement plans. The party called on Makinde to act decisively to secure the release of all abducted teachers and students.
