By Ben Lami
The security of lives and property in Nigeria is primarily the responsibility of the three tiers of government. However, a nation that fails to provide adequate security for its citizens remains vulnerable to both internal and external threats. Beyond government intervention, security is a collective duty that requires individual vigilance, community efforts, cooperation, and collaboration. This underscores the fact that government actions alone cannot resolve security challenges in Nigeria or anywhere in the world.
Recently, reports of burglary, attacks by Fulani herders in nearby villages, and violent crimes have surged in Ogbomoso. These alarming incidents have instilled fear among residents, particularly parents and guardians of students living in off-campus hostels of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and other higher institutions in the area.
Over the past year, numerous cases of Fulani herdsmen attacks—resulting in killings and maiming, especially of farmers—have been widely reported and confirmed.
In response, officers of the Nigerian Police Force from Owóde Police Headquarters, along with security personnel from the five local government areas in Ogbomoso, have taken action. They have launched investigations, made several arrests, and conducted raids on affected villages based on intelligence reports.
However, a recent report published by Sahara Reporters, titled “Suspected Herders Raid LAUTECH Students’ Off-Campus Hostels in Oyo, Killing Two,” was found to be misleading. Investigations revealed that university authorities, in collaboration with security agencies and local government officials, have significantly strengthened security in the university community through regular patrols.
Despite these efforts, more proactive measures are needed to ensure the safety of students and residents in areas like Yoacho-Inúòfébi. Investigations, based on anonymous student testimonies, indicate that criminals are infiltrating the community under the cover of darkness and sometimes even in broad daylight, using the Ogbomoso-Ilorin Expressway as an entry point. Additionally, individuals posing as shoe repairers, plastic menders, scavengers, and hawkers (commonly referred to as Jaribola) are suspected of acting as informants for criminals engaged in robbery and burglary, leading to loss of valuable property, injuries, and even fatalities.
Given these findings, it is imperative that security agencies across Oyo State intensify surveillance, monitor the influx of strangers into the city, conduct thorough background checks, and ensure that all residents and visitors have legitimate intentions and lawful means of livelihood. Only through such decisive actions can Oyo State, Ogbomoso and its environs in particular be made safer for all.
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