Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state says armed bandits from the Northern part of the country are now relocating to the state.
The governor said the criminals have now set up operating camps in Fashola area of the state.
Makinde spoke at 2025 Annual Inter-faith Service for State Workers, attended by top political functionaries and civil servants.
According to him, the bandits are trying to set up a base in the state, urging the people of the state to be very vigilant by reporting any suspicious movement.
The governor who spent his last annual vacation in Fashola, a farm settlement established by his administration stated that he was briefed by security agencies that the bandits camp were close to where he stayed.
He however assured the residents of the state of government to stamp out criminality, as his administration has ramp up security around various communities in the state.
Makinde said, “The year 2024 has been a challenging year, even in terms of safety and security. We had a few fire incidents, armed robberies, and kidnappings, but what I would say is that we will redouble our efforts in 2025. Some of these issues, we will tackle squarely.
“Even just this morning, during the security briefing, we received updates about a special operation currently underway. Quite a number of the wrongdoers from the major northwestern zone are relocating here. But we will locate them, and we will deal with them.
“Because of the stampede last year, I chose to go to Fashola, just to lay low for my birthday, and I can tell you that within less than perhaps one and a half kilometres from where I was sleeping, there were bandits with camps established there.”
The magazine reports that following the clamp down on the bandits by security agencies, many of them are now seeking refuge in other parts of the country to continue their criminals activities.
As part of their desperate efforts to survived the military onslaught against them, some bandit leaders were reported to have formed alliance with the new terrorist group, Lukarawa who are also facing a crack-down from the armed forces and other security agencies.
