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Oyo: Makinde threatens to expose those politicising security issues
Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has said that he will soon expose those politicising the issue of security in the state.
The governor, who stated this on Sunday while addressing the congregation at the St Peters Anglican Cathedral, Aremo, Ibadan, on the occasion of Easter Sunday Service, said that though the state is experiencing a level of insecurity, the situation is not peculiar to the state but a nationwide phenomenon.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, in a statement quoted the governor as saying that security issues ought not to be politicised.
He said, however, that “if they are politicising the issue of security because they want to be in power in 2023, they are making a huge mistake.”
Makinde stated that his administration has taken time to investigate and proffer solutions to reports of insecurity across the state.
He implored those behind the politicisation of insecurity because of their 2023 ambition to jettison the idea and seek the face of God instead of engaging in actions he said could trigger palpable fear in the state.
He said: “I want to say happy Easter to the church of God and pray that we shall witness more on earth. It is another Easter season and it is another opportunity for us to say thank you to our Lord and Saviour, who died for us to be saved.
“The Archbishop has already preached and the only thing I can do is to thank God and say one or two things, which our government is doing.
“Very soon, we will be two years in office and the area of focus of our government remains Education, Health, Economic expansion and Security.
“When the Archbishop was preaching, he mentioned that there are security challenges. Yes, it is true and I can confirm to this gathering that if there is something that makes me not sleep with my two eyes closed, it is the issue of security.
“As a government, we are doing different things and, as a matter of fact, it is on record that there is no government in Oyo State that has spent more money on security than this current one.
“When we came in, within the first hundred days, we gave 100 patrol vehicles out to security agencies.
“We re-established Swift Response Squad, SRS. We re-established Operation Burst as well.
“All the communication gadgets they needed were provided to cover all the areas in Oyo State and they were able to communicate with one another without hindrance. Also, before we came in, there was nothing like Amotekun, but we were able to set it up when we came in. It was just last week that Ogun State set up its Amotekun outfit.
“If you look at those who have set up before now; states like Osun, Ekiti and Ondo, they recruited 300 personnel each, totaling 900 for the three states. But in Oyo State, we recruited 1,500 Amotekun personnel.
“The issue of insecurity is not peculiar to our state; however, rest assured that this government will not rest until every inch of Oyo State is secure.
“But I must warn that politics is inherent in this insecurity issue in Oyo State and in the days to come, I will expose the people that are politicising the issue of security.
“I, as well as those working with me are taking our time. If we hear of any report on insecurity, we will investigate. I know I don’t have much time but I need to explain to the people what is happening so that when they hear about those trying to politicise the issue of security, they will easily know and identify what exactly is the truth
“I symphatise with the people! Why? If they continue to politicise the issue of insecurity because they want to be in government in 2023, they should know that if there is no Oyo State or Nigeria, I don’t know how they want to govern the state in 2023.
“So, I also want to beg you that it is not all we read on social media that is true. If we have friends who are aspiring to get into political offices, they should keep looking unto the face of God instead of seeking to destroy our state and country.”
He also used the occasion to preach forgiveness of sins, saying “God has forgiven us our sins. Let us also forgive others who have sinned against us. I have forgiven my offenders too,”
The governor further felicitated all Christians and the entire people of Oyo State for the Easter celebration, admonishing them to forgive one another in the spirit of the season.
Earlier, the Diocesan Archbishop of Ibadan North Diocese, Most Revd. Segun Okubadejo, charged every Christian to emulate the teachings and ways of life of Jesus Christ.He urged Nigerians not to relent in praying to God Almighty for restoration of peace and a secure nation.
News
Alleged KGB Infiltration: Police in Dilemma as Senator Natasha Abandons Petition, Snubs Summons
The Nigeria Police Force appears to be in a quandary over its investigation into the alleged infiltration of the National Assembly by Russia’s KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti), the former Soviet security agency.
Checks revealed that the police had invited the Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, for interrogation following a petition filed by his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.
In the petition dated March 5, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate, urged the police to investigate Karimi’s claim that the KGB had infiltrated the National Assembly, posing a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
She specifically alleged that Senator Karimi had circulated a report titled “KGB Agent Group Warns Senate: A Call for Vigilance Amidst Threats to Democracy” on the official WhatsApp group of the 10th Senate on February 23, 2025.
Describing the claim as a matter of national security, Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that the alarm raised by Karimi should not be taken lightly. “No nation can afford to ignore the presence of such a group within its legislative body,” she emphasized in her petition.
Karimi Appears Before Police, Natasha Recoils
Further investigations revealed that Senator Karimi honored the police invitation on Monday, appearing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja to clarify his position.
Sources within the police described his session as “positive and insightful,” revealing that he admitted to sharing the report in question. However, the police were reportedly taken aback when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan distanced herself from the petition and ignored requests to appear for questioning.
“We reached out to her after our session with Senator Karimi, expecting her to provide further clarification, but she has continuously ignored our invitation,” a senior police source disclosed.
“What is disturbing is how she suddenly abandoned such a serious petition against her colleague. First, she claimed to be outside the country, but a viral video has since surfaced showing her in her constituency. It is difficult to reconcile her claims with the information available to us,” the source added.
The police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, further hinted at possible political undertones behind the petition.
“We do not want to meddle in the ongoing power play within the Senate. However, it would be scandalous if she attempted to use the police as a tool in her political battles.”
When asked about the possible next steps, the source stated that his superiors would determine the fate of the petition, which he described as “frivolous.”
Twelve inmates have escaped from the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State, following an early morning jailbreak on Monday.
Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, described it as “unfortunate” and assured the public that the government, in collaboration with security agencies, was taking measures to prevent a recurrence.
According to Fanwo, law enforcement officers have already re-arrested one of the escapees.
“The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns. This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system,” he stated.
The commissioner further disclosed that Governor Usman Ododo has directed security agencies to ensure that such breaches do not happen again.
“We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” Fanwo warned.
Reassuring residents, he added: “There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority.”
Authorities have yet to disclose further details about the escapees or ongoing efforts to apprehend them.
The United States has announced the termination of legal status for over 500,000 immigrants, ordering them to leave the country within weeks, as President Donald Trump pushes forward with what he calls the largest deportation campaign in American history.
The sweeping directive, issued on Friday, affects approximately 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who arrived under a programme launched by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, in October 2022 and later expanded in January 2023.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the affected immigrants will lose their legal protections 30 days after the order is published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. This means they must leave the United States by 24 April, unless they secure another immigration status permitting them to stay.
Welcome.US, an organisation that supports asylum seekers, has urged those impacted to “immediately” seek legal counsel regarding their options.
A Reversal of Biden’s Immigration Policy
The Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) programme, introduced in January 2023, allowed up to 30,000 migrants per month from these nations to enter the United States for two years. The initiative was designed to offer a “safe and humane” alternative to the dangerous crossings at the US-Mexico border, which had seen a surge in arrivals.
However, the DHS reiterated on Friday that the programme was never meant to provide permanent residency.
“Parole is inherently temporary, and parole alone is not an underlying basis for obtaining any immigration status, nor does it constitute an admission to the United States,” the agency stated.
Mass Deportations Under Trump
Trump, who has made immigration control a cornerstone of his presidency, has vowed to crack down on migrants—particularly those from Latin America.
Last week, he invoked rare wartime legislation to deport more than 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador, a country that has controversially offered to imprison both migrants and U.S. citizens at a discounted rate.
The latest order signals Trump’s intent to follow through on his hardline immigration policies, raising concerns among human rights advocates about the humanitarian impact of such mass deportations.
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