A former member of the National Assembly representing Oyo Central Senatorial District and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Ayoade Adeseun, has called on the Federal Government to establish a military base in Ogbomoso to address rising insecurity in the area.
Adeseun made the appeal on Sunday during an interview with The PUNCH at Onipanu, Surulere Local Government Area of the state, describing the absence of a military formation in Ogbomoso as a long-standing security gap.
According to him, the strategic location of Ogbomoso and its surrounding communities makes the presence of a military establishment critical, particularly in view of recent security incidents in parts of Oyo and neighbouring states.
His call follows a deadly attack on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, when suspected bandits reportedly invaded the Old Oyo National Park in Oloka, Oriire Local Government Area, killing five officers of the National Park Service at about 11:30 p.m.
In recent weeks, insecurity has also spread to other parts of the region. Four farmers were reportedly killed in Igboho, Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State, while the abduction of a nursing mother and her child in Supare/Ajegunle, Akoko South Local Government Area of Ondo State, has heightened fear across several South-West communities.
Adeseun noted that Ogbomoso has a long history of contributing senior officers to the Nigerian Armed Forces, a legacy he said should ordinarily justify the establishment of a military base in the town.
“It is a very serious issue, and one that ought to have been addressed long ago,” he said. “We have many of our sons in the military — the Army, Navy and Air Force in particular.”
Recalling some notable officers from the area, he added, “We remember Brigadier General Benjamin Adekunle of blessed memory. We remember Colonel Adeniyan, who passed on not long ago. We remember Ibrahim Taiwo.”
He stressed that Ogbomoso continues to be well represented at various levels of the Armed Forces, making the absence of even a modest military formation a source of concern.
“For us not to have a military establishment of some sort, even if it is not a full battalion is worrisome,” Adeseun said, urging the Federal Government to act swiftly in the interest of regional security.
