Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has assured residents of the South-West region that governors across the geopolitical zone are actively collaborating to strengthen security architecture and combat rising criminal activities threatening lives and property.
The governor made the disclosure during an appearance on a national television programme following the conviction and sentencing of four individuals linked to the deadly 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Aiyedatiwa’s remarks come against the backdrop of increasing security concerns across parts of the South-West, particularly recent incidents involving the abduction of students and teachers in Oyo State and kidnapping cases reported in Ekiti State. The developments have heightened public anxiety and renewed calls for more coordinated security measures among state governments.
According to the Ondo governor, South-West leaders have continued to engage in strategic consultations aimed at addressing emerging security threats and ensuring a safer environment for residents. He noted that a recent meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State, focused extensively on developing a unified regional approach to tackling insecurity.
He explained that one of the key pillars of the security framework is the strengthening of the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, which operates across several states in the region. While Lagos State maintains its own security structure, Aiyedatiwa said other South-West states have continued to leverage Amotekun as a critical complement to conventional security agencies.
The governor emphasized that security management often involves operations and intelligence activities that are not always visible to the public. He stressed that governments at both state and regional levels have been carrying out extensive engagements within forest reserves and border communities to prevent criminal elements from establishing operational bases.
Describing Ondo as a strategic gateway to the South-West, Aiyedatiwa noted that the state’s geographical location places it at the crossroads of several regions, making it vulnerable to movements by criminal groups. He said this reality necessitates constant surveillance, intelligence gathering and inter-state cooperation.
“A lot of engagements are going on in our forest reserves that do not come to the public in the news. Security is one responsibility that leaders carry that is not always visible. It is often only when there is a security breach that people begin to question the efforts of government, but significant work is being done daily,” he stated.
The governor also reflected on the recent judgment delivered in connection with the Owo church massacre, describing it as a major victory for justice and the rule of law.
In June 2022, gunmen attacked worshippers during a Sunday service at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, killing more than 40 people and leaving many others with life-altering injuries. The attack sent shockwaves across Nigeria and drew widespread condemnation from local and international communities.
Four years after the tragedy, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four defendants to death by hanging after finding them guilty on terrorism-related charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). The convicts were among five individuals prosecuted in connection with the attack.
Reacting to the verdict, Aiyedatiwa said the judgment offers a measure of closure to victims’ families and demonstrates the commitment of the Nigerian justice system to holding perpetrators of terrorism accountable.
He noted that the ruling extends beyond the Owo community and represents hope for countless victims of violent extremism across the country who continue to seek justice.
“For us in Ondo State, this judgment is a victory for the rule of law and for all victims of terrorism, not only those affected in Owo but everyone who has suffered attacks by criminal and terrorist elements,” the governor said.
Security experts have repeatedly advocated stronger intelligence-sharing mechanisms, improved inter-state coordination and enhanced community policing strategies as essential tools in confronting the growing challenges of kidnapping, banditry and terrorism across Nigeria.
As concerns over insecurity continue to dominate national discourse, Aiyedatiwa’s assurance underscores ongoing efforts by South-West governors to build a more coordinated regional security framework capable of responding effectively to emerging threats while protecting lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.
The renewed commitment by state leaders comes at a time when residents are increasingly demanding tangible results in the fight against crime, with many hoping that deeper collaboration among security agencies and regional governments will translate into lasting peace and stability across the South-West.
