The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has launched a fresh attack on Governor Seyi Makinde over the rising wave of kidnappings, violent attacks and school abductions across the state, accusing his administration of failing to provide effective security leadership.
The opposition party made the accusation on Friday in Ibadan while reacting to recent abductions involving teachers, pupils and other residents in parts of the state.
The criticism comes days after gunmen reportedly abducted scores of pupils and teachers during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area.
Two staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in Idi Ayunre, Oluyole Local Government Area, were also reportedly kidnapped in separate incidents that heightened concerns over insecurity in the state.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC said the worsening security situation in Oyo contrasted sharply with conditions in other South-West states, alleging that Governor Makinde had relied more on “showmanship and populism” than practical security reforms.
“We have said on several occasions that window dressing and populism cannot help in building and sustaining security architecture,” the party stated.
According to the APC, the Makinde administration sidelined critical stakeholders shortly after assuming office in 2019 and failed to build strong community-based security coordination involving traditional rulers and local institutions.
The party also questioned the effectiveness of security investments made by the state government, particularly the procurement of surveillance aircraft reportedly worth billions of naira.
“He paid almost N8 billion for surveillance aircrafts but nothing has been seen since July 2025 while bandits and other criminal elements torment residents,” the statement alleged.
The APC further criticised the handling of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun Corps, accusing the government of poor welfare packages, inadequate remuneration and weak operational support for personnel.
According to the opposition party, many Amotekun operatives were allegedly deployed for political interests instead of strengthening local security operations.
The statement also revisited the controversial debate around state police, accusing Makinde of inconsistency after he recently renewed calls for constitutional backing for state-controlled policing.
Governor Makinde had, during the Allied Peoples Movement primaries in Ibadan on Thursday, urged the Federal Government to empower state Houses of Assembly to facilitate the establishment of state police structures instead of leaving the process solely under the control of the Inspector-General of Police.
The governor described the recent abductions in Oriire as “a very tough period” for both him and the state.
But the APC argued that Makinde previously dismissed the idea of state police during earlier national consultations.
The party referenced a 2024 Channels Television interview in which the governor reportedly described discussions around state police as “a waste of time.”
“It is regrettable that Governor Makinde now wants to shift blame to the Presidency despite receiving billions in security votes,” the APC added.
The opposition party called for urgent action to secure the release of all abducted victims and demanded a comprehensive overhaul of Oyo’s security structure.
The renewed political clash comes amid growing public concern over insecurity across several parts of Nigeria, with kidnapping-for-ransom increasingly affecting schools, highways and rural communities.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned that attacks on schools in the South-West could trigger fears similar to those experienced in parts of Northern Nigeria over the past decade.
As of Friday evening, the Oyo State Government had not officially responded to the APC’s latest allegations.
