Insecurity: South-West Governors Hold Emergency Meeting In Oyo

Governors of states in the South-West geopolitical zone converged on Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Monday for an emergency meeting to discuss urgent regional issues, with security on top of the agenda.

The closed-door session, currently underway at the Governor’s Office, Agodi, has the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde as host.

In attendance were Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Dapo Abiodun, Ogun; Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ondo; Biodun Oyebanji, Ekiti; and the host governor, Makinde.

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, sent his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, to represent him at the crucial meeting.

Although full details of the meeting remain undisclosed, sources familiar with the development said the urgent gathering was convened to deliberate on rising security concerns across the South-West, particularly fears over the movement of criminal elements from other parts of the country into the zone.

The governors were also expected to discuss strategies for fast-tracking infrastructural development and strengthening regional integration under the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission.

Part of the agenda, the source said, includes a review of ongoing collaborative security frameworks, especially the operations of the Amotekun Corps, with an eye on boosting its capacity to tackle emerging threats.

The meeting comes amid growing calls for tighter border surveillance, improved intelligence sharing, and stronger inter-state coordination to safeguard lives and property in the region.