Oyo Deepens Military Intelligence Ties to Crush Kidnapping and Cyber Networks

The Oyo State Government has announced plans to expand its intelligence-gathering networks and reinforce collaboration with national defence institutions to counter evolving threats such as kidnapping, banditry, and cybercrime.

The commitment was highlighted during an official reception in Ibadan for the Commandant, faculty, and participants of the Advanced Defence Intelligence Officers’ Course 16 from the Defence Intelligence College, Karu, who visited the state on a nationwide study tour.

Delivering the government’s address on behalf of Acting Governor Adebayo Lawal, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, stated that sustainable economic growth, commerce, and social stability depend heavily on a secure environment. He explained that the state administration has continuously upgraded its security architecture through investments in communication gear, surveillance infrastructure, inter-agency synergy, and grassroots community involvement.

The Acting Governor noted that the shifting nature of criminal activities requires proactive capabilities to detect threats before they manifest, reiterating the state’s readiness to partner with the Armed Forces in developing early warning alert systems, personnel capacity building, and rapid information sharing.

Speaking earlier, the Commandant of the Defence Intelligence College, Commodore Usman Bugaje, explained that the study tour provides officers with practical field exposure to examine real-world security challenges and study Oyo State’s operational response to security incidents.

Bugaje commended the state government for its logistical and administrative backing of security formations, assuring that insights and tactical recommendations gathered during the tour will be compiled into actionable strategies to enhance intelligence operations across the country.