“We’ve Been Ready for a Long Time” Governor Aiyedatiwa Declares Ondo Fully Set for State Police, Adds 500 New Officers to Local Guard

Ondo State is not waiting around for a brand-new policing blueprint to protect its citizens. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has made it clear that the state has already built the perfect launchpad for a local police force, meaning they can hit the ground running the second the federal government passes the necessary laws.

Speaking at a public gathering in Akure, the governor pointed out that violent crime and general insecurity are the biggest dangers facing local communities. He argued that centralizing all police powers away from the actual communities being attacked is a model that has simply run its course.

The big advantage for Ondo State is that it doesn’t have to start from square one. For years, the state has relied heavily on the Amotekun Corps, a homegrown regional security group that has won massive praise from locals for hunting down kidnappers and protecting farmlands. To show he is serious about local security, the governor announced that his administration is injecting fresh blood into the system, recruiting 500 more operatives and boosting the welfare and pay of the existing team to keep morale high.

According to the state leadership, the transition from a regional guard to an official state police force will be seamless because the human groundwork is already done.

“For us in Ondo State, we’ve been ready for a long time,” Aiyedatiwa stated. “We have the structure, we have the passionate people, and the foundation is solid. All that is left is for the federal government to approve it and help us get the sophisticated equipment needed to outgun the bad guys.”

The governor’s call for local policing powers was backed by several elder statesmen and political leaders at the event, who agreed that local officers are the best line of defense because they actually live in the neighborhoods they protect.

As the national debate over splitting up police powers continues to dominate headlines, Ondo is positioning itself as the poster child for how local policing should work. For everyday residents who are tired of looking over their shoulders, the government’s readiness offers a reassuring sign that help won’t have to travel hours from a distant federal headquarters when an emergency strikes.