The new security outfit established by the South-west governors, according to them, is complementary to the conventional police force. Reports BAYO AGBOOLA
It is no longer news that insecurity is a major issue faced by the country with its consequences on most states thereby forcing them to devise ways of ensuring the safety of lives and property within their domains.With the establishment of a joint security outfit called ‘Amotekun’ (Leopard), it can be said that an end has come for the various security challenges in and across the South-west region. No wonder, governors of the zone on Thursday, January 9 launched the security architecture in line with their conclussion last year after a security summit in Ibadan about the urgent need for the six states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo to have a joint security outfit for the entire region considering the increasing wave of insecurity pervading the area particularly kidnapping, armed robberry, among others. The governors at the summit minced no words in their resolve to establish an outfit which, according to them, is aimed at strengthening/improving the security situation in and across the region. Therefore, during the launch of Amotekun, they emphasised that it is a community policing response to the security challenges in the region and a complementary confidence-boosting strategy to secure the territory.
Amotekun not parallel to the police – Akeredolu
Chairman of South-west Governors Forum, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu while speaking at the launch disclosed that it was borne out of the need to show clearly that the security of lives and property of the people in the zone remains paramount to the governors. He noted that Amotekun would in no way hinder the federal security agencies from performing their constitutionally-assigned duties in and across the region.He said, “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is appropriate for me at this juncture to state that the South-west states believe in the unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its indissoluble sovereignty. We are committed in all ramifications to the ideals that would make the country stronger and more united. The various nation-states within the federation are diverse, yet almost all of us agree that our strength is in our unity. Consequently, we shall continue to support the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari in its determination to take the country to the next level. Let me on this note thank DAWN Commission for the wonderful job done in crafting the operational framework for Amotekun,” he said. Governor Akeredolu added further, “The commission has taken care of all grey areas that could cause friction in the operations of the personnel that would be deployed for the programme. As a matter of fact, the Nigeria police would oversee and moderate the activities of Amotekun thereby making its operation to conform with acceptable standards. Amotekun is the Yoruba name for leopard. It is not the tiger, Ekun. It is also important that I allay the fears of all those who have expressed misgivings as regards the quality of the personnel to be recruited to serve in the outfit. There is an adequate recruitment mechanism for the exercise. The conventional security agencies will participate actively in profiling the recruits.”According to Akeredolu, “Nobody with questionable character would participate in the programme. We would make it difficult for undesirable elements to compound the challenges being encountered. Proper background checks would be carried out on personnel to be recruited while the needed registration/identification of such personnel would be done to ensure accountability.”
He emphasised that, “The governors in the South-west would provide all the logistic supports that would enhance the seamless operations of the programme. Each of the six states has procured 20 pick-up vans equipped with communication gadgets and one hundred motorcycles for the take-off of the security network. I wish to enjoin all those that would be in charge of the vehicles and motorcycles to ensure their adequate maintenance and usage only for intended purpose.”
Outfit to complement the police – Fayemi
Also speaking, chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Dr Kayode Fayemi who is also the governor of Ekiti state said, “The South-west governors have fashioned out a way that we can complement the works of our mainstream security agencies that are quite over-streched in their efforts to arrest the menace that afflicted not just our zones but the entire country at a time.”So, from six months ago when we held our summit here in Ibadan, I am pleased that this idea whose time has come has also been embraced by the leadership of our security agencies because the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has since gone ahead to announce the police’ commitment to community policing strategy. And Amotekun is nothing but a community policing response to security problems. Pending the time that the community policing strategy put together by the Nigeria Police Force comes to fruition, it is clearly important that we give our people a confidence-boosting strategy. If you ask me, Amotekun is nothing but a confidence-building strategy for our people in the six states in this zone. We obviously are all in the right places and the mainstream security agencies are doing their best to arrest the situation. It was in the context of this unfortunate development that we lost the daughter of our leader in Afenifere, Pa Rueben Fasoranti and that further puts a lot of pressure on the political leadership in the zone to do something about the fear in our communities and constituencies where people were not sleeping with their two eyes closed. “As elected leaders of our various states, our primary responsibility, according to Section 14 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 as amended is the security and welfare of our citizens. And that was what informed the coming together of my colleagues and I to fashion a way that we can complement the work of our mainstream security agencies that are quite over-streched in their efforts to arrest the menace that afflicted not just our zones but the entire country at a time.”
Security of lives our priority -MakindeThe host governor Engineer Seyi Makinde while welcoming his colleagues pointed out that the security of lives and property of the zone should be of paramount importance to the governors saying, “When we discuss the development potentials of our states and talk about investment opportunities and growing our internally-generated revenue by exploring areas of comparative advantage, we remain keenly aware that we cannot achieve anything in a state of insecurity. “When we assumed office, we all took the oath to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria to follow the dictates of the constitution and protect the sovereignty of the country. For me and my colleagues, we have not forgotten our oath. Our regional integration, our coming together should be seen in one light and one light alone. That we are coming together to fight a common enemy; that enemy is not Nigeria but elements among us and their affiliates who are determined to cause commotion within the borders of our states and threaten our peaceful co-existence. As this launch proceeds today, we would find out this architecture that we have put together is in harmony with the constitution that we swore to protect,” he said.Governor Makinde stressed “We would also learn that everything we have applied to do with ‘Operation Amotekun’ is in line with the existing security architecture. All we are doing is creating an appendage of local vigilantes that would feed the current state apparatus. Personally, I am excited to be part of this history because I believe that the collaboration we are starting today would make way for other regional roads and development and ultimately improve the lives of the citizens.
Traditional rulers are in support -OoniThe Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, in his remark cautioned the personnel that would be working with the new security outfit not to betray the interest of Yoruba land, saying, “South-west governors have done their best and it is left for the personnel and the citizens of the region to work together for the success of the security outfit. All traditional rulers in the region are in support of the new security outfit.”The federal government is not opposed to it; let all and sundry support it for peace to reign in the region. The success of this security outfit would be of benefit to the present generation and generations yet unborn.”
The director general, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Mr Seye Oyeleye, said all Yoruba groups such as OPC, Agbekoya and other indigineous groups are part of the new security outfit. He corroborated the governors on the inclusiveness of other local security outfits. “Contrary to some people’s views, those in these groups are not iliterates; they are all educated.” All eyes are on Amotekun to foster synergy with the existing conventional police in order to tackle insecurity in the region.
