Makinde Signs Order To Regulate Security Groups In Oyo

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Wednesday signed into law Executive Order 001 of 2026, a sweeping regulatory instrument mandating the formal registration and monitoring of all associations, groups and organisations offering security and allied services across the state.

The signing ceremony, held in Ibadan, marks a significant shift in how Oyo State intends to govern the operations of vigilante bodies, community security outfits and other non-state actors that have increasingly taken on security functions in the state’s urban and rural communities.

Makinde, who presided over the ceremony, said the executive order became necessary given what he described as the growing security challenges confronting communities and the unchecked proliferation of groups engaging in security related activities without proper coordination or legal backing.

“Security remains a collective responsibility of both the government and citizens,” the governor stated, adding that the order was designed to ensure that all organisations involved in security and allied services are properly registered, documented and monitored by the state government.

Beyond registration, the governor delivered a pointed warning to socio-cultural groups operating within the state, cautioning them to steer clear of narratives capable of triggering ethnic profiling, discrimination or confrontation. He said his administration would not tolerate any form of criminality conducted under the guise of security operations, and called on residents to avoid any action that could deepen ethnic tension across the state’s diverse communities.

Makinde equally addressed the ongoing abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, assuring residents that the government, working alongside security agencies and relevant stakeholders, is actively pursuing the safe return of the victims. He praised security agencies and the public for their patience and restraint during the crisis, and urged citizens to channel intelligence on suspicious activities through official security channels rather than resorting to self help or unlawful reprisals.

Laying out the operational framework of the new order, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, said any association, group or organisation offering security related services with a membership strength exceeding five persons is now legally required to notify and formally register with the government through the Office of the Special Adviser on Security.

Existing groups, Aikomo warned, have just 72 hours from the time of signing to notify the office and comply with the directive for documentation and certification, making the compliance window one of the most immediate in recent Oyo State regulatory history.

The Attorney General further stated that the regulation would equip the government with the capacity to identify and monitor individuals or groups carrying weapons or operating in security uniforms across the state. He made clear that failure to comply with the executive order constitutes a violation of the law and would attract punishment accordingly.

Responsibility for enforcement has been distributed across three agencies: the Office of the Special Adviser on Security, the Commissioner of Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, all of whom have been directed to ensure full and immediate compliance. The order took effect the moment it was signed by the governor.

The development comes at a time when security actors below the level of conventional law enforcement have grown in visibility and influence across Oyo State and the wider Southwest region, raising persistent questions about accountability, coordination and the legal boundaries of their operations.

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