The Chairman of the Ibadan Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibrahim Lawal, on Thursday urged Governor Seyi Makinde and security agencies in Oyo State to urgently strengthen the state’s security system to prevent further escalation of crime.
Lawal made the appeal during a press conference at the Afe Babalola NBA House in Ibadan, ahead of the 2025 NBA Ibadan Law Week, scheduled to commence next week.
“Oyo used to be the most secure state in Nigeria. The security architecture was very tight, but I think the present administration has relaxed, and that’s the effect we are seeing. We can only urge the government to come together, look at the security architecture, and return it to where it was so we can build on it,” he said.
The call follows the recent kidnapping of Wale Oriade, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was abducted in his office around 7:06 pm in Ibadan by gunmen in a blue Micra vehicle.
Lawal stressed that the State Government must take proactive measures despite federal and military efforts. “We know the security situation is bad. The Federal Government and the military are doing their best, but the State Government must sit down and look for the best solutions. It is getting very close to us. The kidnapping of the lady shows that nobody is safe,” he said.
He also appealed to the state Commissioner of Police to urgently restructure Oyo’s security framework. “The Commissioner of Police must rejig the security architecture of the state. We must make sure that lives and property are safe,” Lawal added.
READ ALSO: Police Rescue Togolese National, Neutralise Two Kidnappers in Oyo
Speaking on the upcoming Law Week, Chairman of the Planning Committee and former state Attorney-General, Oluseun Abimbola (SAN), said the event would combine professional development with social engagement. “This is not just a business or working event alone. It is also a social event. We will be receiving those newly admitted into the profession. We have invited the governor, members of the executive council, and several dignitaries,” he said.
The 2025 NBA Ibadan Law Week, running from Friday, December 12 to Wednesday, December 17, will feature intellectual discussions, networking opportunities, and professional development sessions.
The call for urgent security reforms comes shortly after Governor Makinde held an expanded security council meeting with service commanders, local government chairmen, and traditional rulers, highlighting the government’s awareness of rising security concerns in the state.