By Adeboye Ado & Victor Akinkolie

Stakeholders in Owo Local Government area of Ondo State, along with others who converged on Okitipupa, also in the state, have blamed Nigeria’s escalating insecurity on a defective policing system, inadequate funding of security agencies, and a lack of active community engagement.

These concerns took centre stage, first at a one-day security summit held on Monday at the Prof. Abubakar Rasheed Auditorium, Achievers University, Owo, against the backdrop of increasing violence and criminal activities in the ancient town since the beginning of the year.

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.

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.

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

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.

Justice Olateru-Olagbegi advocated a two-pronged solution to the deepening crisis, a massive public reorientation campaign and increased funding for law enforcement.

The summit had in attendance traditional rulers, youth bodies, religious leaders, security agencies, and civil society organisations. Discussions revolved around community policing, intelligence gathering, public enlightenment, surveillance and partnerships to build resilience against insecurity.

At the end of the summit, participants resolved to activate the proposed Security Trust Fund, strengthen public engagement efforts and adopt intelligence-led security strategies. Stakeholders pledged collective responsibility for the safety and peace of Owo and its neighbouring communities.

In Okitipupa, a security expert and former governorship candidate of the Accord Party, during the 2020 Ondo governorship election, Hon Rotimi Akindejoye, advised the Ondo State Government to involve more security actors at the grassroots in tackling the security challenges.

Akindejoye, spoke at the 2025 edition of the Ondo South Safety and Security Summit, organised by the Institute of Industrial Security and Safety of Nigeria ( IISSN), held in Okitipupa, headquarters of Okitipupa Local Government area of Ondo State.

The programme tagged, “Proffering a Lasting Safety and Security Plan in Ondo South Senatorial District” was attended by stakeholders in the area and other paramilitary agencies.

The former governorship candidate who is also the Convener of the programme, suggested the need for the government to pay more attention to the training of the grassroots security actors, saying the move would further assist the efforts of the government in combating the menace.

The security expert mentioned the grassroots security actors to include, Local Hunters, Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) as well as men of the Agbekoya among others.

Describing security as a joint task and collective responsibility between the government and the stakeholders, stressed the needs for more collaborative efforts in tackling the security challenges currently ravaging some parts of the state.

While expressing serious concern about what he called security deteriorating status in some parts of the state, the Accord Party Chieftain called on the people of the state, especially those at the grassroots to always be vigilant and supply reasonable tangible information to the security operatives.

As a way of addressing the problem, the former governorship candidate listed measures to be taken by the government to includes, the need for quarterly security meetings at the local government level, inclusion and recognition of traditional outfits such as local hunters, OPC, VGN and Agbekoya among others.

Other measures mentioned by him are, inter-agency cooperation where all agencies would work together and operate in unity, rather than in isolation.

 He equally suggested the needs for every local government to set up a dedicated safety and security fund to acquire more security equipment, emergency response systems, welfare of grassroots security operatives and community awareness programmes among other measures.

Earlier in a paper presented at the event by a University Don, Professor Adekunle Olatunde of the Department of Adult Education, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, described security as number one priority for any developing society.

Similarly, in another lead paper presented by Dr Odeyemi Olarewaju, expressed serious concern about the security situation in Ondo State, noted that the state has been one of the safest in the past among the southwest region of the country.

He commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for what he described as his relentless efforts towards ensuring absolute peace and safety of both life and property in the state and for the maintenance of State Security Network codename Amotekun.

As a way of addressing the trend he suggested the needs for the government to build her plan on five important pillars which he mentioned to includes, prevention, participation, protection, promotion and prosecution.

The event also featured delivery of goodwill messages, presentations of awards to the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa and other some distinguished indigenes of the area which includes, Professor Adekunle Olatunde, Ambassador Sam Ebiesuwa, Ogede Tale-Victor, and Comrade Ademola Odudu.