Governors in the South West Zone on Thursday in Ibadan flagged-off the operations of the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun), stressing that it would complement the mainstream security agencies in the country.
Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo were present at the event.
Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State was represented by his deputy, Mr Benedit Alabi, while Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State was represented by his deputy, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele.
Speaking at the occasion, Fayemi said that Amotekun was not a duplication or replacement for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
He said: “Amotekun is a complement that will give our people confidence that they are being looked after by those they elected into office.
“So, we do not want this to create fear in the mind of anybody as we are not creating a regional police force and are fully aware of the steps we must take to have state police.
”We do not want anybody to misconstrue the concept of Amotekun.”
Fayemi said that insecurity of lives and property in recent times was the main reason behind the formation of the security outfit.
He added that the mainstream security outfits had not been forthcoming in arresting the situation.
“It was in the context of the unfortunate development that we lost the daughter of Pa Rueben Fasanranti, the leader of Afenifere.
”And that further put pressure on us, as leaders in the Southwest, to do something about insecurity.
“As elected leaders, our primary responsibility, according to Section 14 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 as amended, is the security and welfare of citizens.
“That was what informed the governors coming together to fashion out a way to complement the work of the mainstream security agencies overstretched in their efforts to arrest the menace that have afflicted the entire country,” he said.
Fayemi said that the announcement by Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, of the police commitment to community policing strategy was an indication that Amotekun had been embraced by the leadership of the mainstream security agencies.
He said that Amotekun was a community policing response to the problem of insecurity in the country.
The governor said that pending the time community policing strategy being put together by the Nigerian Police come to fruition, it was necessary to give the people a confidence boosting strategy.
”So, if you ask me, Amotekun is nothing but a confidence building strategy for our people in the six states of the Southwest,” he said.
On the mode of operation of the outfit, Fayemi said that it would work as a joint task force with the mainstream security agencies.
He said that having deep knowledge of the terrain, language, culture and history of the community where they would work, the outfit would be set apart from other agencies they would work with.
In his keynote address, Akeredolu said the outfit was only one of the many solutions being planned to tackle the many socio-economic problems facing the South West region.
He said that the six states each had procured 20 pickup vehicles and 100 units of motorcycles for the operations.
Akeredolu said that the outfit would enhance the efforts of government in tackling security challenges across the zone and the nation as a whole.
He advised those that would be involved in the initiative not to politicise it.
The governor said that none of the vehicles for the Amotekun outfit would be used for political campaigns during election period.
Makinde, in his address of welcome, said it was the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens, adding that the governors took the oath to defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“What we seek to do is to keep our people safe, not fighting Nigeria but the elements among us that seek to destabilise our region.
“As governors of these states, it is our priority to ensure that both indigenes and settlers living within the boundaries of our various states carry out their legitimate activities in a secure environment.
“The security of their lives and properties should be of paramount importance,” he said
Among the dignitaries at the flag off were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Prof. Banji Akintoye, leader of Yoruba World Congress.
Meanwhile, the Ooni has called on personnel of the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun) not to betray the region on the ideals behind setting up the security outfit.
The monarch said that governors in the region had done their best, adding that it was left for the personnel and the residents of the region to work together for the success of the security outfit.
“All the traditional rulers are in support, the Federal Government is not opposed to it, let all and sundary support it for peace to reign in the region.
“The success of this security outfit will be of benefit to the present generation and generations yet unborn,”he said. Akintoye said that the Yoruba did not know how to tackle their security challenges when they first emerged.
He said that the governors and the people of the region had now risen up to the challenges and were acting credibly in tackling it.
“The people that will work in Amotekun are going to be trained properly by highly educated people for them to relate properly with the police and the army,” he said.
The National Public Relations Officer,Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Prof. Nelson Fashina, said that his personnel were properly qualified for the security outfit.
Fashina said that the group was capable of taking up the challenges of community policing as members were conversant with the terrain.
