Oyo pledges stronger intelligence drive against kidnapping, cybercrime

The Acting Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Lawal, has reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to strengthening intelligence-driven security and deepening collaboration with national defence institutions to safeguard lives and property.

He made this known through the Secretary to the State Government, Musibau Babatunde, while receiving the Commandant and participants of the Advanced Defence Intelligence Officers’ Course 16 (2026) of the Defence Intelligence College, Karu, during a courtesy visit at the Conference Room of the Local Government Service Commission, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, in Ibadan, the state capital, on Friday.

Welcoming the delegation, the Acting Governor described the Defence Intelligence College as “an institution that plays a critical role in strengthening Nigeria’s national security and intelligence capacity.

So This Happened (EP 420) reviews: Nollywood veteran Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ dies at 660:00 / 0:00

“Oyo places the highest premium on security as the foundation for sustainable economic development, investment, education, social stability, and the wellbeing of its people.

“The Makinde-led administration has consistently strengthened the state’s security architecture through improved inter-agency collaboration, enhanced intelligence gathering and sharing, investment in surveillance and communications infrastructure, and stronger community engagement.

“The security environment is constantly evolving, with threats such as kidnapping, banditry, sophisticated criminal networks, and cyber-related crimes requiring continuous improvement in capacity to anticipate and respond.

“Let me, on behalf of the state government, express our readiness to deepen collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security and intelligence institutions in areas such as intelligence development, early warning systems, information sharing, capacity building, and community-based security.”

He urged the participants to approach the study tour with open minds, engage stakeholders, and share experiences that can strengthen national security.

Lawal reminded them that their responsibilities go beyond acquiring professional knowledge, stressing that their ultimate duty is to protect lives, preserve national unity, and create an environment where citizens can live and prosper in peace.

The Acting Governor assured the delegation that Oyo remains committed to supporting all legitimate efforts aimed at protecting citizens and maintaining peace and stability across the state.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commandant of the Defence Intelligence College, Commodore Usman Bugaje, explained that the delegation, comprising course participants and faculty, was in Oyo as part of its National Study Tour, which forms the field component of the Advanced Defence Intelligence Officers’ Course.

He noted that the five-to-six-month course combines classroom training with field exposure to help participants identify gaps and provide actionable solutions that will benefit Oyo and other stakeholders in intelligence and security.

Bugaje added that the tour provided an opportunity for officers to engage with security agencies, the military, and other stakeholders in the state, including learning from the government’s response to recent security incidents such as kidnapping.

He expressed appreciation to Governor Makinde for his unwavering support to security agencies, intelligence operations, and the coordination of the state’s security architecture.

The commandant, therefore, assured that findings from the tour would be documented and shared with state governments and security agencies to strengthen intelligence and security operations nationwide.