Babalaje of Ogbomoso Calls for Collective Action on Insecurity, Economic Growth in Oyo

The Babalaje of Ogbomoso, Engineer Muftau Open Salawu, has called for urgent collective action to address insecurity and unlock the vast economic potential of Oyo State, describing the killing of five park rangers in Oloka village, Orire Local Government Area, as a tragic and avoidable loss.

Salawu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the call in a press statement issued on Sunday following last week’s deadly attack on a National Park Service outpost by suspected bandits.

The incident, which claimed the lives of five park rangers, has heightened fear across Oloka and neighbouring communities within the Ogbomoso zone of the state.

Describing the attack as “heartbreaking,” Salawu said the loss of lives could have been prevented if law and order had been firmly enforced.

“Five deaths are too many. This tragedy could have been avoided. Upholding law and order is fundamental to peace. May the departed souls rest in peace, and may God grant comfort to their families,” he said.

He urged the government, security agencies and residents to work together to confront insecurity and underdevelopment in Orire Local Government Area, noting that the council’s vast landmass makes it both vulnerable to criminal activities and strategically important for economic growth.

“Orire Local Government covers about 2,040 square kilometres, which is more than half the size of Lagos State, yet it has a population of less than 250,000. This clearly shows the enormous, untapped agricultural and business potential of the area,” Salawu stated.

According to him, improving security in Orire is crucial to the success of the Oyo State Government’s agribusiness agenda. He called for collective efforts to protect and sustain existing agricultural investments across the state.

Salawu commended Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration for prioritising agribusiness since 2019, citing the Fasola Agribusiness Hub, as well as the Ijaye and Eruwa Agribusiness Industrial Hubs.

“The Fasola Agribusiness Hub is already delivering results, while the Ijaye and Eruwa hubs are designed to transition agriculture from subsistence to commercial and industrial scale.

These initiatives will add value to farm produce, reduce post-harvest losses, create jobs and attract investments to areas like Orire,” he said.
On security architecture, the Babalaje warned that Nigeria’s policing system remains overstretched, particularly with the existence of vast ungoverned spaces across the country.

“Government cannot do everything alone, but its primary responsibility is to guarantee a safe environment. By global standards, Nigeria needs over 500,000 police officers for a population of about 235 million, yet we currently have only about 371,800,” he noted.

He emphasised the need for state and local policing to effectively secure rural and expansive areas such as Orire, while commending the Amotekun Corps for its efforts in bridging security gaps.

“With many ungoverned spaces across the country, state policing has become imperative.

Until constitutional amendments are made and state police are fully operational, Amotekun is doing its best. Citizens must also play their part—see something, say something,” Salawu urged.