Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has disclosed that more than 200 operatives of the South-West security outfit, Amotekun Corps, have been killed in Oyo State while combating insecurity.
Makinde made the revelation to during a visit to families of victims abducted from three schools in the Oriire area of Ogbomoso on May 15, describing the situation as tragic and calling for collective action to secure the release of the victims.
The governor stressed that the current security challenges required unity among all levels of government rather than blame-shifting.
He said, “This is not the time to trade blame, whether it is federal, state or local government. This is the time to pull together and rescue our children and their teachers.”
Makinde also expressed sympathy with affected families, assuring them that the government would deploy all available resources to secure the safe return of the abducted students and their teachers.
“And for those who have lost their lives, their blood will not be in vain. I feel your pain. Please, have trust in us,” he added.
The governor acknowledged growing public frustration over insecurity but maintained that his administration was making efforts to address the situation despite criticisms.
He further highlighted the sacrifices made by operatives of the Amotekun Corps, noting that many had paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.
“For the Amotekun Corps, we have lost over 200 of them. They go out, but many do not return. May God help us put an end to the bloodshed in our state and country,” he said.
Amotekun Corps, established in January 2020 by the six South-West states, was designed as a regional security initiative to curb rising cases of kidnapping, banditry and farmer-herder conflicts.
Speaking earlier at a joint mega rally of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement in Ibadan, Makinde reiterated his call for the establishment of state police, describing Amotekun as a temporary alternative.
“We wanted state police. It was because we could not get it that we established Amotekun as a stop-gap,” he said.
The governor also criticised delays by the Federal Government in actualising state policing, urging authorities to be more decisive in addressing Nigeria’s security architecture.
The disclosure comes amid heightened concerns over insecurity in parts of Oyo State, particularly following the recent abduction of students and teachers in the Ogbomoso axis.
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