Concerned stakeholders in the ancient town of Owo, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, have lamented the rising spates of insecurity in the area, blaming it on poor policing coupled with underfunding, shortage of security personnels and lack of community engagement.
At a summit held at the Professor Abubakar Rasheed Auditorium of Achievers University, the stakeholders decried the bouts of criminality which have engulfed the town in recent times, noting that something has to be swiftly done to salvage the situation.
Chairman of the Local Government, Tope Omolayo, who convened the summit, disclosed plans by the council to establish a Security Trust Fund to reinforce existing security structures and support future interventions.
“We cannot fold our arms while our people are being killed, abducted or maimed. That is why I inaugurated a Security Summit Committee to bring all critical stakeholders together to chart a path forward. What we do here today will define the future of Owo,” Omolayo stated.
He described the summit as a practical step in response to rising public outcry and a clarion call from concerned residents for immediate action to curb further violence.
“Today, we come together not just to talk, but to share ideas, propose solutions and form lasting partnerships that will help us reclaim our communities from the grip of fear,” he added.
Omolayo said the summit was a timely and crucial intervention, expressing optimism that it would birth new policies and community-driven strategies to restore lasting peace across Owo and its environs.
“Insecurity is not a challenge government can solve alone,” he remarked. “It requires a collective effort and I believe that what we achieve here today will not only shape our response to current threats but also lay the groundwork for a more secure future.”
He commended the planning committee, facilitators and participants for their commitment and passion, noting that their involvement played a vital role in the success of the summit.
Chairman of the summit and retired jurist, Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi, gave a grim assessment of Nigeria’s security situation, describing the nation’s security framework as “grossly inadequate and unsustainable.”
He lamented the poor allocation to the police in the 2025 federal budget, pointing out that of the N54.99 trillion national budget, only N4.91 trillion, less than 10 percent was earmarked for defence and security, with the Nigeria Police Force getting a paltry N1.25 trillion.
“With approximately 371,800 officers across the country, and over 80 percent assigned to VIP protection, the functional ratio of one policeman to 2,514 Nigerians falls far below the UN recommendation of 1 to 400,” he said.
“This critical shortage has left our police force severely handicapped. And the consequences are visible rising crime, fear and a growing sense of helplessness among citizens.”
Referencing the 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, along with a spike in cult-related clashes and kidnappings, the retired jurist said the situation represents the worst collapse of Nigeria’s security architecture since the civil war.
Quoting Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah’s 2021 Easter message, he said Nigeria had become “a massive killing field,” warning that public confidence in the government was rapidly eroding due to persistent inaction.
He also decried the infiltration of cultism among youths, ritual killings, rising cases of murders by domestic staff and the alarming trend of rogue officers engaging in kidnapping and extortion.
“The old order will not do,” he stated firmly. “Society must innovate new ways to protect and preserve itself.”
Justice Olateru-Olagbegi advocated a two-pronged solution to the deepening crisis, a massive public reorientation campaign and increased funding for law enforcement.
“This summit is not just a talking shop. We are here to seek solutions and map out a way forward,” he declared
