A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has said that the recent attack at the Old Oyo National Park shows the urgent need for stronger security in the area. He said the incident proves that criminals are now moving into forest reserves and tourist locations, turning them into hideouts and threatening public safety.

The aspirant explained that parks and rural communities are becoming soft targets because of limited security presence. He called on the state and federal governments to deploy more security personnel, surveillance equipment and rapid response teams around forest zones to prevent future attacks and protect visitors and residents.

He also stressed that insecurity in such places discourages tourism, investment and economic activities that could benefit local communities. According to him, Oyo State cannot fully develop if people are afraid to travel, farm, or do business because of fear of attacks. He urged leaders to treat security as the foundation of development.

The aspirant further appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders and residents to support security agencies with timely information. He said fighting crime should be a shared responsibility, adding that only cooperation between the government and the people can bring lasting peace to Oyo State.