Oyo kidnap: Monarch seeks upgrade of police post

The Elerepamo of Pamo, Ayobami Ogunmakinde, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to upgrade the only police post in Pamo, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, to a full-fledged divisional police headquarters.

Ogunmakinde made the appeal while speaking with The PUNCH at his palace in Pamo on Sunday.

He said the move had become necessary to prevent a recurrence of the May 15 abduction of more than 40 schoolchildren and their teachers from L.A. Primary School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esienle, in the council area.

The victims regained their freedom on Friday, July 10, after spending 56 days in captivity.

The monarch said the local government, which comprises about 740 villages, was currently served by only one divisional police headquarters.

Ogunmakinde said the situation had left residents vulnerable to attacks by kidnappers and other criminal elements.

The PUNCH observed that the police post, located about six kilometres from the monarch’s palace, had no rifle, while officers attached to the facility were seen carrying sticks while carrying out their duties.

Speaking further, Ogunmakinde said the Oriire abduction exposed the enormous security challenges confronting the council.

He said, “The day terrorists kidnapped the pupils and teachers was a very terrifying day for us in Oriire. All the towns in Oriire were scared, even across the Ogbomoso zone, because we had never experienced such before.

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“We realised that there is no adequate security in Oriire. We have about 740 villages, yet we have only one police division covering a very large area. Oriire starts from Ipepa to Igbeti, and it is one of the largest local governments in Oyo.

“As one of the ancient towns in Yorubaland with historical ties to the old Oyo Empire, the community has made deliberate efforts to strengthen security by providing facilities for a police post.

“Although the Nigeria Police Force approved the establishment of the post and deployed officers to the community, the facility has remained grossly under-equipped and requires more support.

“When I became the king, we made arrangements to build a police post here. The Nigeria Police Force approved it and gave us 12 policemen, but we want the government to help us make it a division. That will enhance security in this area and make our people feel safer.

“The abduction had taken a heavy toll on education in the council. Many residents fled their communities in the aftermath of the attack. The fear gripped the entire local government for weeks.

“I did not sleep in the town after the incident because of the situation, but I had to return because I cannot abandon my people.

“Some people ran away, while some stayed because their means of survival are here. Those who left later returned after assurances from the Federal, state and local governments on improved security.

“I am now calling on the Federal Government, through President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to please, as a matter of urgency, upgrade the only existing police post in Pamo to a full-fledged divisional police headquarters.”