Oyo govt acquires two surveillance aircraft to fight insecurity

The two surveillance aircraft acquired by the Oyo State Government have arrived in Ibadan, the State Capital, fulfilling the Government’s earlier assurance that the aircraft would be delivered before the end of July, 2026.

…as Abiodun orders full probe of Ajuwon building collapse

The fleet of aircraft is expected to support security agencies, including the Amotekun Corps and other relevant formations, in monitoring criminal activities and improving response efforts across the State.

Dotun Oyelade, Commissioner for Information, in a statement on Tuesday, said the arrival of the aircraft marked another step in the State’s efforts to strengthen security operations through improved intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance.

The Commissioner recalled that the Oyo State Government announced the purchase of the two surveillance aircraft on July 8, 2025, as part of measures aimed at enhancing the capacity of security agencies to tackle emerging security challenges across the State.

Meanwhile, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has ordered a comprehensive technical investigation into the collapse of a two-storey building at Baale Road, Ajuwon, in Ifo Local Government Area as the Ogun State Government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and preventing similar incidents across the state.

The building, which collapsed on Monday afternoon following a severe thunderstorm, claimed one life, while several occupants narrowly escaped.

Preliminary findings by a multi-agency investigation team revealed that the structure suffered a catastrophic structural failure, causing the lower floors to sink into the ground, with only portions of the upper slab remaining visible above the debris.

Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred at about 3:00 p.m., shortly after a heavy downpour accompanied by intense thunderstorms and a reported lightning strike in the vicinity. Two women and their children reportedly escaped moments after noticing signs of structural distress, while a young man sustained minor injuries as he fled the building before it gave way.

Emergency responders, including officials of the Ogun State Safety Office, State Fire Service, Ministries of Environment, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Works and Infrastructure, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Ifo Local Government Water and Environmental Sanitation Department, immediately mobilised to the scene and commenced coordinated search-and-rescue operations.

Contractors working within the Akute-Alagbole and Agbado axis also swiftly deployed heavy equipment to the site, joining the rescue efforts less than 10 minutes after the collapse.

Although initial surface searches did not locate any victims, traces of blood and footprints beneath the rubble prompted emergency teams to undertake a carefully controlled excavation exercise. The operation eventually led to the recovery of one deceased victim, whose identity had yet to be confirmed at the time of the report.

The investigation team noted that while adverse weather conditions preceded the collapse, the exact cause of the structural failure could not be determined at the scene. Experts explained that only detailed structural, geotechnical and forensic engineering investigations would establish whether the incident resulted from foundation failure, soil instability, construction defects, the use of substandard materials, or other underlying factors.

Consequently, Governor Abiodun has directed specialists from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the Ogun State Building Control Agency, the Building Production Management and Material Testing Agency, and other relevant regulatory bodies to conduct comprehensive assessments of the collapsed structure, evaluate soil conditions, examine construction materials, and inspect adjoining buildings to determine whether they have also been compromised.