Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has stated that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, reportedly informed him that over 200 operatives of the Amotekun security corps have been lost to insecurity in Oyo State.

Aiyedatiwa made the remark during an interview on Channels Television, where he discussed the rising security challenges facing states in the South-West region and the limitations of state-level security structures in tackling them independently.

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According to him, the worsening security situation underscores the urgent need for stronger collaboration between state and federal authorities. He stressed that no state government can effectively combat insecurity alone without adequate federal backing and a more coordinated national security framework.

The governor further argued that the creation and effective empowerment of state police could significantly improve security outcomes across the country. He noted that unless such structures are properly equipped and legally strengthened, states will continue to struggle with rising threats from armed groups and criminal networks.

Aiyedatiwa emphasized that governors are often constrained by constitutional limitations, especially in deploying fully armed and well-structured security forces capable of matching the sophistication of modern criminal operations.

He maintained that the experience shared by Governor Makinde reflects the broader reality facing many states, where local security outfits such as Amotekun are increasingly exposed to dangerous frontline operations without sufficient resources or federal reinforcement.

The governor’s comments come amid ongoing national debates about restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly calls for the establishment of state police to decentralize policing and improve rapid response to insecurity at the grassroots level.

Amotekun, the South-West security network, was created by regional governors to support conventional security agencies in tackling kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent crimes. However, the outfit remains limited in terms of firepower, legal authority, and operational capacity compared to federal security agencies.

Security analysts have long argued that while Amotekun plays a valuable local intelligence and surveillance role, its effectiveness is constrained without stronger institutional backing and better coordination with federal forces.

Aiyedatiwa’s remarks have therefore reignited conversations around the sustainability of regional security outfits and the urgent need for a more integrated national security strategy.

As insecurity continues to pose challenges in different parts of the country, stakeholders maintain that improved funding, inter-agency cooperation, and constitutional reforms will be key to strengthening Nigeria’s security framework.