The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, has appealed to opposition politicians to stop playing politics with the recent kidnapping incident in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
According to the Commissioner, Governor Seyi Makinde, in his usual display of transparency and accountability, informed the people of Oyo State that about 200 personnel of the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) have lost their lives since the establishment of the corp six years ago.
Prince Oyelade said it was unfortunate that some opposition elements have twisted the governor’s statement to create the false impression that the casualties were connected to the recent Oriire kidnapping incident.
“For the opposition to turn the statistics on its head is nothing but cheap politics. Amotekun has not lost a single operative in the Oriire kidnapping incident. The only casualty recorded was a personnel who sustained injuries and is currently recuperating,” he stated.
The Commissioner explained that the figure of 200 deaths recorded since 2020 resulted from various causes, including illnesses, natural causes, and fatalities sustained during security operations. He added that in every case, due procedures were followed, including the notification of the families of the deceased personnel.
Prince Oyelade noted that the Oyo State Amotekun Corp remains the most funded and best-equipped security outfit in the South-West region.
According to him, the corp currently operates 181 vehicles, 450 motorcycles, and has a workforce of over 2,500 personnel, making it the largest Amotekun formation in the region as well as one of the best remunerated.
He also said that as far back as 2021, Governor Seyi Makinde had been making a strong case for state police and the deployment of weapons capable of matching those used by bandits and kidnappers, but his repeated appeals have largely fallen on deaf ears.
The Commissioner warned the Opposition to see the current insecurity crises from an apolitical perspective and not fuel circumstances that will further jeopardise the lives of our children and teachers
He urged residents to continue supporting the efforts of the state government and security agencies in maintaining peace and security across Oyo State.
