The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has questioned the effectiveness and deployment of the surveillance aircraft acquired by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde following a fresh attack on an Operation Burst base in the state.
The party raised the concerns after suspected bandits reportedly attacked a security base along the Igbeti–Igboho axis in Olorunsogo Local Government Area on Sunday.
According to reports, the attackers operated for more than an hour before leaving the area. Some properties were reportedly taken during the incident, while parts of the security facility and a vehicle were set ablaze. No casualty was reported.
Reacting to the incident, the Oyo APC said the attack had raised serious questions about the state government’s security arrangements, particularly the use of the surveillance aircraft purchased to support intelligence gathering and aerial monitoring.
In a statement issued on Monday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Sadare, expressed concern that the attack occurred in an area where the government had reportedly established a base station for the aircraft.
Sadare argued that the prolonged presence of the attackers without an apparent aerial response suggested that the surveillance system had either not been deployed in the area or was not functioning as expected.
The APC also criticised the reported expenditure on the aircraft, arguing that less costly technological solutions could have been considered to strengthen security surveillance across the state.
The opposition party further accused Governor Makinde of failing to adequately utilise the increased resources available to the state to address insecurity and other challenges confronting residents.
It also took issue with Makinde’s frequent criticism of the economic policies of the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu, urging the governor to focus more attention on the security and welfare of people in Oyo State.
The APC maintained that the recent attack should serve as a wake-up call for the state government and security agencies to improve intelligence gathering, surveillance and rapid-response capabilities.
The party consequently demanded greater accountability over the deployment and effectiveness of the surveillance aircraft, saying residents deserve to know whether the equipment is operational and contributing meaningfully to security operations across Oyo State.
