Oyo abduction: Governor Bala Mohammed demands comprehensive security reform, citing link between crime surge and government shortcomings

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From left, Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde; Bauchi State governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; National Chairman of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle; and the APM governorship candidate in Bauchi State, Dr Yakubu Adamu, during a visit to Governor Makinde on Sunday.

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By Adeola Badru

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Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, saying the country’s persistent insecurity reflected deeper challenges of poor governance, poverty and inadequate collaboration between security agencies and citizens.

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Mohammed made the call on Sunday during a visit to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan, where he sympathised with the government and people of Oyo State over the abduction of teachers and pupils from Yawota and Esinele communities in Oriire Local Government Area.

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The Bauchi governor, who was accompanied by leaders of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), including National Chairman Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle and the party’s governorship candidate in Bauchi State, Dr Yakubu Adamu, said the country’s security framework required urgent review to improve effectiveness, intelligence gathering and coordination among security agencies.

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While expressing confidence that the abducted teachers and pupils would regain their freedom, Mohammed commended the Oyo State Government’s efforts to secure their release.

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Speaking with journalists after meeting Makinde, he said: “I am here with our leaders from the Allied People’s Movement to commiserate with our presidential candidate and the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, about the travails that the people and government of Oyo State are going through as a result of the abduction of our school children and their teachers.“

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“It has been a lingering issue for some time, and we are really sharing with him the grief. We are here to encourage him that what he is doing to ensure their release is being noticed by the whole nation.“

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“And we join, on behalf of myself, the government and people of Bauchi State, to commiserate with him, and to encourage him, to ensure that these Nigerians are released.”

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Mohammed pledged support for efforts to secure the safe return of the victims and said he was prepared to assist the Oyo State Government in any way possible.

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Addressing the wider security situation in the country, the governor argued that insecurity could not be separated from socio-economic conditions and leadership challenges.

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“The security situation is a manifestation of a lack of good governance, poverty, and the challenges of life. Beyond that, I think the citizenry should sit up and make sure that they take their destinies into their hands,” he said.

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He urged citizens not to aid criminal activities and called on Nigerians to elect leaders capable of addressing the country’s challenges.

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“People need to take their destinies into their hands to make sure that they don’t allow themselves to be informants or to play along with criminal tendencies. And, of course, to make sure that they elect good people to lead them.

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“Leadership is another function, and they must make sure that they bring some changes, and they know where the shoe pinches. I don’t have to talk too much.“

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“We don’t have to exonerate ourselves at any level of leadership, at the sub-national, national or local government. But I think during the next election cycle, people should take their destinies into their hands.”

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Mohammed also used the visit to congratulate Makinde on his emergence as the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement.

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“He is my jolly good friend, a young man with energy, determination and drive, who can do a lot to change the trajectory of leadership and good governance in Nigeria,” he said.

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