The deadly attack on the National Park Service office in Oloka, Oyo State, claiming five lives, is a tragic reminder that insecurity is no longer knocking on the door of the South West, it has broken in.
This incident is part of a frightening trend of violence spreading across the region, from kidnapping in Ekiti to attacks in border communities in Ogun.
It reveals that our forests have become sanctuaries for cross-border bandits, exposing the gross inadequacy of the federal policing system to secure rural Nigeria.
The Aare Ona Kakanfo, Iba Gani Adams, hit the nail on the head: “This brings us back to the burning issue of the need for state police… This is the only way to stop these kind of mindless killings.”
Governor Seyi Makinde has described the incident as a cross-border attack and promised decisive action. However, the federal government must realize that a centralized police force cannot secure Nigeria’s vast, ungoverned spaces.
We need State Police, and we need it now. Furthermore, we must revitalize community policing. Security is local, and only a force that understands the language, culture, and terrain of the people can effectively intelligence-gather and neutralize threats before they strike.
The legislature must fast-track the creation of State Police. The blood of the slain officers in Oyo cries out for a system that works, one that protects public servants and safeguards our territorial integrity.