From Ora to Ijebu Jesa and Waasinmi, communities along Osun State’s borders have increasingly come under the shadow of kidnappers and armed criminals. But beyond the rising cases of abduction lies another troubling concern — the lack of synergy between the state government and local council authorities over security management, reports BOLA BAMIGBOLA
Osun State has had its fair share of violent crimes in recent times, with little breakthrough despite efforts by the state government and the management of the 30 local government areas to keep the state safe.
While it may be an overstatement to describe the state as completely unsafe, it would not be inaccurate to say Osun has become increasingly vulnerable to violent crimes, particularly kidnapping.
Sandwiched between states battling severe cases of abduction and banditry, the 35-year-old South-West state appears yet to evolve a coordinated response capable of effectively tackling the growing threat.
Osun lies inland in Nigeria’s South-West region, bordered by Oyo and Kwara states to the north, Ekiti and Ondo states to the east, and Ogun State to the south. Occupying a strategic position within the region, the state serves as a link between the western and eastern parts of the South-West.
However, observers attribute the lack of effective coordination in tackling insecurity to the prevailing political situation in the state, where the Accord Party controls the state government, while the local government administrations are dominated by officials elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
Although both sides have, at different times, rolled out initiatives aimed at addressing insecurity, political rivalry has continued to create a gulf between them, thereby hampering the implementation of a unified security strategy.
Weak response
In the last six months, victims of several reported abduction cases in the state regained freedom only after the payment of ransoms running into millions of naira. In none of the incidents were the victims rescued by security operatives.
A closer look at the pattern of the crimes also shows that many of the abductions occurred in communities located along Osun’s boundaries with neighbouring states.
The trend has raised concerns over the ability of the government to effectively secure its borders against criminal elements fleeing pressure from nearby states battling worsening insecurity.
One of the earliest reported cases involved Emmanuel Owolabi, who was abducted in Ora, a border community in Osun State near Kwara State. His abduction was followed by several similar incidents recorded between December 2025 and May 2026.
After spending almost four weeks in captivity, Owolabi was eventually released in a community in Kwara State following the payment of an undisclosed ransom.
Barely weeks later, suspected bandits reportedly invaded Ora again through the Kwara boundary on February 1 and abducted two other residents. They were also released after about four weeks in captivity.
In April, the wave of abductions shifted to Waasinmi, a town located near the Osun-Oyo boundary. A Bororo Fulani resident identified simply as Sulaimon, who lived around Olubo Road in the community, was reportedly kidnapped by gunmen who later demanded ransom for his release.
On May 4, kidnappers struck again in Ijebu Jesa, where another herdsman, Yahaya Suleimon, was abducted. The abductors reportedly demanded N70m ransom, though an undisclosed amount was eventually paid to secure his freedom days later.
Of all the reported incidents, it was only in the Ijebu Jesa case that arrests were publicly announced by security agencies.
Motion, little movement
Apparently in response to growing concerns over the increasing cases of kidnapping in states sharing boundaries with Osun, the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke has intensified security patrols in communities located along the Kwara State border.
Coincidentally, the Chairman of Ifedayo Local Government Area, where some of the affected communities are located, Samuel Idowu, is also the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in Osun State, made up largely of chairmen elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
The political atmosphere in the state has remained tense, as the ALGON leadership under Idowu is embroiled in legal battles with officials elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party during the February 22, 2025 local government elections and loyal to Governor Adeleke.
Beyond providing logistics support for security patrols in vulnerable border communities, the Adeleke administration also established the Osun Security Trust Fund, aimed at mobilising resources to finance security operations and provide equipment for security agencies operating in the state.
At the same time, local government administrations controlled by APC officials have also embarked on separate efforts to strengthen security across Osun.
A few weeks ago, through the platform of ALGON, the council chairmen donated about 300 motorcycles to conventional and non-conventional security agencies operating in the state.
That intervention was followed by the donation of 30 operational vehicles to security agencies to aid surveillance and rapid response operations.
However, despite the huge investments and separate interventions by both the state government and local councils, incidents of kidnapping for ransom have continued to occur in different parts of Osun, with little resistance from security operatives.
To many observers, the development suggests that despite the numerous initiatives, Osun appears to be “running fast while standing still,” largely due to the absence of a coordinated security strategy between the state government and local authorities.
Residents warn
In separate interviews with The PUNCH, residents of communities located along Osun’s borders with neighbouring states warned that political differences between the state government and local councils must not be allowed to undermine efforts to tackle insecurity.
Speaking with The PUNCH, the Secretary of the Ifon-Orolu Progressive Union Board of Trustees, Jide Akinyooye, said residents of communities within Orolu Local Government Area, which shares boundaries with Oyo State, were increasingly vulnerable.
While acknowledging efforts by both the state government and local councils to prevent criminal incursions through the Ogbomoso axis, Akinyooye expressed concern over the apparent lack of collaboration between the two tiers of government.
According to him, “The gap in political administration arising from the withheld local government federal allocation in Osun State must not become an excuse for a security lapse. The protection of lives and property is a constitutional duty that cannot be suspended by fiscal disputes.
“The recent spike in banditry and violent attacks around Ogbomoso, Oyo State, is not a distant problem for Osun. It is a direct warning. Orolu Local Government is the closest Osun border to Ogbomoso and, in the current security climate, proximity is a risk factor, not a coincidence.”
He added, “Orolu shares a porous border with Ogbomoso. Criminal elements displaced by security operations in Oyo often move across state lines to avoid pressure. Without a visible security presence, border LGAs become transit routes and safe havens. Orolu’s location puts it first in line for spillover activity.
“Once bandits establish footholds in one area, they expand into neighbouring communities for logistics, abduction targets, and safe passage. Orolu’s rural settlements, farmlands, and connecting roads make it vulnerable if left under-policed.
“Orolu is an agricultural and trading corridor linking Osun to Oyo. Farmers, traders, and transporters already face growing fear. If security erodes, food supply chains will be disrupted, markets will shrink, and rural-urban migration will increase. The cost to Osun’s economy and public confidence will be immediate.
“Waiting until an attack occurs in Orolu means reacting under pressure, with higher casualties and political consequences. A proactive deployment of police, Amotekun, and community intelligence units now will serve as a deterrent and disrupt criminal activities before they take root.”
Expressing similar concerns, a resident of Oke-Ila, a community bordering Ekiti State, and Akeem Olomola, a resident of Owena, located along the Osun-Ondo boundary, said the lack of coordination between the state and local governments had negatively affected efforts to secure the state.
“Are the local government chairmen involved in the state’s security planning? Will they attend security meetings convened by Governor Adeleke?” Olomola queried.
“Osun State Government and the local government chairmen are operating like two parallel lines, and that will not help them effectively deal with the threat posed by these criminals.
“They do not trust each other. They are unwilling to share ideas. It is a dangerous situation, but we can only hope things do not deteriorate beyond the current level,” he said.
ALGON reacts
Speaking during the handover of 30 operational vehicles donated by local government councils to security agencies in the state, the Osun State chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Samuel Idowu, said the councils remained committed to protecting residents and supporting security operations across the state.
Idowu stated that the council chairmen would continue to invest in initiatives aimed at promoting peace, security and sustainable development in Osun.
According to him, “We will not relent in investing in initiatives that promote security, peace and sustainable development. Together, we can build a safer, stronger and more prosperous Osun State.”
Osun govt
Responding to concerns raised by residents over the apparent lack of synergy between the state government and local councils, the Osun State Government assured residents that political differences would not be allowed to compromise security in the state.
Speaking through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Samuel Ojo, the government admitted that political disagreements might be affecting coordination between the two sides, but insisted that the Adeleke administration remained focused on protecting lives and property.
Ojo, however, accused the APC-controlled local government chairmen of operating independently of the state government.
“They are running a parallel government alongside the state government. So, what do you do? We will not fight. We will continue to place the security of our people on the front burner,” he said.
He added, “The administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke remains committed to keeping Osun safe, and that is what we will continue to do.”
