Oyo State Commandant of the Western Nigeria Security Network, (WNSN), Operation Amotekun, Col Olayinka Olayanju (retd), Tuesday insisted that the Fulani herders vigilante were involved in last Saturday’s combing of forests in Ibarapaland and three other local government areas of the state.
Col Olayanju (retd) said that the leadership of the herdsmen were part of the arrangement that led to the raid.
The Amotekun Commandant stressed that there was a meeting of all stakeholders including the leadership of the Fulani herders in the affected areas and an agreement was reached to carry out raid on forests.
He maintained that the claims that Amotekun personnel carried out the raid without involving the Fulani vigilantes was not true as they were at the raid together with other local vigilante groups.
“It is not true that the Fulani herders and their leadership were not carried along in the raid of the forests for bandits terrorising the people of the area. They are part of the processes that led to the raid and they are part of the execution of the raid. They were fully involved” he said
Speaking further, he emphasized that his men are not killing innocent people as been alleged by some people that are not comfortable with the existence of the security outfit in Oyo state.
He pointed out that the Amotekun corps comprised mainly of members of vigilante groups as well as local hunters making use of dane guns not sophisticated guns as claimed by enemies of the Corps.
Col Olayanju (retd) maintained that Amotekun personnel were given adequate training on how to relate and deal with members of the public as well as members of other sister security agencies in the state in sustaining the security situation in the state.
While assuring the people of the commitment of the Gov Seyi Makinde led administration in ensuring adequate security, Col Olayanju (retd) urged the people to join hands with the Corps in maintaining security in the state.
