Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, assured residents that his administration would intensify efforts to strengthen the state’s security architecture to ensure safety across all areas.
He gave the assurance at the grand finale and laying of wreaths for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
The governor spoke against the backdrop of a recent attack in which gunmen attacked forest guards at Old Oyo National Park in Oloka, Oriire Local Government Area, around 11:30 pm on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, killing five National Park Service officers.
Makinde commended officers and personnel of the Armed Forces for their role in securing the state and urged them to sustain their efforts.
He also disclosed plans to establish a welfare scheme for the families of the five forest guards killed at the Oloka Village axis of the Old Oyo National Park.
The governor assured that his administration would continue to support wounded soldiers, widows, orphans and other dependents of fallen heroes, noting that they paid the ultimate price to keep the country safe.
“I can only say thank you to the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“This is a challenging time for us as a nation. We are still dealing with various security challenges, and they have been doing their best.
“We have asked them to do a lot more with very few resources, and they have been doing their bit. I want to urge them not to relent.
“I want to say that for us, as a government, we will continue to give the necessary support to ensure that it is not a hardship posting for them,” he said.
Speaking about the incident at the old Oyo National Park, Makinde assured that the state would not leave any stone unturned to ensure the state’s safety.
“For Oyo State, a few days back, we had an incident at the Old Oyo National Park where some forest guards were killed.
“We commiserate with their families, and we will do our best to ensure that they are looked after.
“It is not the time to play the blame game. We will not leave any stone unturned until we keep every inch of space and land in this state safe and secure,” he said.
The state interim chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Julius Alabi, praised the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government for improvements in the welfare of Legion members and other forms of support.
The ceremony featured the laying of wreaths at the remembrance cenotaph by the governor, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Mohammed Fadeyi; the state Chief Judge, Iyabo Yerima; and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
Others were the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj Gen C.R. Nnebeife; the interim chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Julius Alabi; Commander, 2 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army, Brig Gen A.S. Bugaje; Commander, 655 Nigerian Air Force Station, Ibadan, Air Commodore D.U. Njoku, the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, and a representative of the widows of fallen heroes, Taibatu Bello.
The event also featured a 21-gun salute in honour of the fallen heroes, special prayers, the release of ceremonial pigeons by the governor and inspection of the parade guards.
Other dignitaries at the event were the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal; former Deputy Governor, Hamid Gbadamosi; former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Monsurat Sunmonu; Secretary to the State Government, Musibau Babatunde; Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi; Head of Service, Olubunmi Oni; Deputy Chief of Staff, Kazeem Adeniyi; and Commissioner for Women and Social Inclusion, Toyin Balogun, among others.
