The Elerepamo of Pamo, Ayobami Ogunmakinde, has called on President Bola Tinubu and Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to upgrade the police post in Pamo, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, to a full-fledged divisional police headquarters. This appeal comes after the abduction of over 40 schoolchildren and teachers from local schools on May 15. The victims were held for 56 days before regaining freedom on July 10.
Ogunmakinde made the appeal at his palace in Pamo, stating that the current police post is grossly under-equipped and unable to effectively secure the area. The local government comprises about 740 villages, but only one divisional police headquarters serves the area. This, the monarch believes, leaves residents vulnerable to attacks by kidnappers and other criminal elements.
A visit to the police post revealed that it had no rifle, and officers were seen carrying sticks while on duty. Ogunmakinde noted that the Oriire abduction exposed the enormous security challenges confronting the council. He described the day of the abduction as terrifying for the people of Oriire and the Ogbomoso zone.
The monarch highlighted that Oriire starts from Ipepa to Igbeti and is one of the largest local governments in Oyo. Despite its size and historical significance as one of the ancient towns in Yorubaland, the community has only one police division covering a very large area. Ogunmakinde emphasized the need for an upgrade to enhance security and make residents feel safer.
Ogunmakinde revealed that upon becoming king, he made arrangements to build a police post, which was approved by the Nigeria Police Force and staffed with 12 policemen. However, the facility requires more support to function effectively. The abduction had a significant impact on education in the council, with many residents fleeing their communities in the aftermath.
The fear of attacks gripped the entire local government for weeks, causing some people to run away while others stayed due to their means of survival being in the area. Ogunmakinde himself did not sleep in the town after the incident but later returned to assure his people of his presence. Some residents who fled later returned after receiving assurances from the Federal, state, and local governments on improved security.
Ogunmakinde urged the Federal Government to take urgent action to upgrade the police post to a full-fledged divisional police headquarters. This, he believes, will go a long way in addressing the security challenges in the area and ensuring the safety of residents. The monarch's call for an upgrade is a response to the immediate need for enhanced security measures in the wake of the recent abduction.
Key points
- The Elerepamo of Pamo, Ayobami Ogunmakinde, appeals for the upgrade of the local police post to a divisional police headquarters.
- The police post in Pamo is currently under-equipped and serves a large area of 740 villages.
- The abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in May highlighted the security challenges in Oriire Local Government Area.
