As security concerns continue to weigh heavily on residents across Southwestern Nigeria, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) governorship candidate in Oyo State, has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap to address the rising wave of threat.
Appearing on Arise TV’s morning program on Tuesday, Adekanmbi emphasized that restoring safety—particularly across the vulnerable Oke-Ogun border axis—requires moving away from centralised strategies toward grass-roots involvement.
Central to his platform is addressing insecurity in Oyo State by decentralizing security operations, strengthening existing local outfits, and leveraging local intelligence networks to protect lives and property.
Strengthening Amotekun and Championing Community-Led Security
To build an effective defense structure, Adekanmbi announced plans to overhaul the state security network, Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN)—popularly known as Amotekun. Under his proposed administration, the agency will undergo strategic recruitment targeted directly at high-risk communities.
“We must localise our security efforts,” Adekanmbi stated during the broadcast. By recruiting local people from the affected communities to complement conventional security agencies, we ensure that those who understand the terrain are on the frontline of defense.
Beyond state-backed agencies, Adekanmbi pledged that his government would formally collaborate with recognized local security organizations, vigilante groups, and traditional institutions. By integrating traditional rulers and religious leaders into the security architecture, the APM candidate aims to rebuild trust and create a robust early-warning system across all 33 Local Government Areas.
Insecurity in Oyo State: Leveraging Biometric Data Collection, Grassroots Monitoring
A critical vulnerability identified in the state’s current setup is the lack of proper documentation for unregistered populations residing in rural and border areas. Adekanmbi highlighted that unverified individuals operating without oversight severely compromise local intelligence efforts.
To solve this, his proposed administration will roll out a comprehensive census and biometric data collection framework targeting unaccounted-for residents. By capturing identity details and tracking daily operational patterns in vulnerable hubs, security forces can monitor suspicious movements without infringing on civil liberties.
Through this combination of community policing in Nigeria and modern data-driven security strategies, Adekanmbi believes Oyo State can establish a sustainable safety blueprint that protects critical agricultural zones like Oke-Ogun while boosting economic confidence across the state.
