Oyo Abductions Not Sign of Security Failure on Part of Makinde, He Has Lost Over 200 Amotekun Operatives in Bid to Protect His People— Aiyedatiwa
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has defended the security efforts of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, saying recent abductions in parts of the state should not be interpreted as evidence that the government is not tackling insecurity.
Aiyedatiwa disclosed that Governor Makinde has made significant sacrifices in the fight against crime, revealing that more than 200 personnel of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, have lost their lives while carrying out security operations.
The Ondo governor made the remarks while speaking on the security challenges confronting the South-West region and the efforts being made by state governments to address them.
According to him, he recently spoke with Governor Makinde, who informed him of the heavy losses suffered by the Amotekun Corps in the line of duty.
“The abductions in Oyo do not mean Governor Seyi Makinde is not working on security. I spoke with him on the phone a few days ago and he told me he has lost over 200 Amotekun personnel,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He noted that the sacrifices of the operatives have largely gone unnoticed because they are actively engaged in security operations across the state.
“It was not reported in the news because they are actively engaged on the field,” he added.
Aiyedatiwa stressed that insecurity remains a challenge across the country and requires sustained collaboration among federal and state authorities, security agencies and local security outfits.
His comments come amid growing concerns over recent cases of kidnapping and other security breaches in Oyo State, which have sparked public debate about the effectiveness of existing security measures.
The governor, however, maintained that the efforts being made by the Makinde administration and security personnel on the ground should be acknowledged, describing the loss of over 200 Amotekun operatives as evidence of the commitment and sacrifices being made to protect lives and property.