Following the kidnapping of students and teachers in the state’s Oriire Local Government Area, the Oyo State House of Assembly has expressed new concerns about the growing insecurity in border towns.
In a strategic meeting at the Police Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin voiced the concern to Commissioner of Police Abimbola Olugbenga.
According to Ogundoyin, criminals that carry out kidnappings and attacks have found isolated areas and permeable borders appealing.
He claimed that “many criminal elements take advantage of porous borders and remote communities to perpetrate kidnappings, attacks, and other criminal activities.”
He demanded more patrols in high-risk locations and improved intelligence collecting.
“To protect lives and property throughout Oyo State, there is an urgent need to strengthen intelligence gathering, increase patrol operations, and sustain proactive policing strategies,” the Speaker continued.
Ogundoyin praised security services for their efforts to free the kidnapped students and instructors.
“We value the continued efforts to guarantee the safe release of the kidnapped students and instructors. We continue to have faith in the dedication and expertise of the security staff managing the operation,” he stated.
In the meantime, the Oyo State Police Command has rejected a widely shared video that purportedly showed the kidnapped students and instructors from the communities of Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota being transported to Kaduna State by helicopter.
The command characterized the assertion as untrue and deceptive in a statement released by DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the Police Public Relations Officer.
The statement stated, “The Command wishes to categorically state that the content of the said video is entirely false, unverified, misleading, and devoid of any factual basis.”
Security agencies are still working to obtain the victims’ release, according to the police.
“Intensive rescue efforts are still in progress. The Oyo State Police Command has greatly increased efforts to guarantee the safe rescue of all kidnapped victims in close coordination with other security and intelligence agencies, the command stated.
Residents were cautioned by the leadership not to disseminate unconfirmed information that could incite fear or hinder rescue operations.
The statement went on, “Such actions are not only irresponsible but also capable of creating unnecessary panic, misleading the public, and obstructing security operations.”
It stated that there would be legal repercussions for anyone caught creating or disseminating fake material in order to weaken security services.
