…Makinde also announced the approval of scholarships up to the university level for the children of the deceased guards.
OYO, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has approved a compensation package of ₦5 million for each family of the forest guards recently killed at the Old Oyo National Park.
The governor made the announcement during an assessment visit to Oloka village in Oriire Local Government Area, where the incident occurred.
In a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Makinde also announced the approval of scholarships up to the university level for the children of the deceased guards.
He further pledged to rehabilitate the Oloka–Ikoyi-Ile road under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project to improve accessibility in the area. In addition, the governor promised to enhance telecommunication services, provide boreholes and install solar-powered streetlights in the community.
Makinde assured residents that the state would sustain joint security operations to guarantee their safety. While condoling with the affected families and community members, he reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening the state’s security framework and improving living standards in the area.
The governor also disclosed plans to formally request the military authorities in Abuja to establish a military base in Oloka to further bolster security. However, he emphasized that security is a shared responsibility and urged residents to promptly report any suspicious activities to security agencies.
Commending service commanders for their dedication and support in protecting lives and property, Makinde assured the community of the government’s resolve to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Explaining his visit, the governor said he wanted to personally assess the security challenges in the area, particularly communication gaps. He pledged that the state government would fund the installation of telecommunication masts to address the issue.
Makinde warned criminal elements that security operations in the area would be intensified, stressing that bandits would no longer have room to operate.
He announced that families of the deceased would receive the ₦5 million compensation, while children left behind by the slain guards would benefit from government-sponsored scholarships through the university level. He added that clearance operations at the Old Oyo National Park would be intensified in collaboration with security agencies.
The governor later led residents in a minute of silence to honour the slain guards.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, retired Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni, revealed that three principal suspects linked to the killing of the five forest guards had been arrested and were undergoing interrogation.
He said security agencies had been fully briefed on the incident and were committed to ensuring that criminal elements are not allowed to operate in the state.
The visit was attended by top government officials, including the Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi; Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Mojeed Mogbonjubola; Senior Executive Assistant on General Duties, Bayo Lawal; Director-General of the Oyo State Mineral Development Agency, Abiodun Oni; service commanders and other senior officials.
Traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders were also present, including the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye; the Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oyediran, and other community leaders.
