Western Nigerian Security Network ‘Amotekun’ begins operation in Oyo State
Segun Showunmi in Ibadan
Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has declared Western Nigerian Security Network otherwise known as Amotekun Corps Operational.
Penpushing reports that Makinde made the disclosure on Wednesday at the passing-out
ceremony of Oyo State Pioneer Amotekun Corps held at Emmanuel Alayande College of Education Sports Complex, Main Campus, Oyo.
The Governor noted that security has always been an issue, which makes security one of the pillars of his administration, stressing that insecure state can never attract investors both
local and foreign.
“When telling the story of the Western Nigeria Security Network code named Amotekun, it will be on record that it was officially launched on January 9, 2020’,Makinde said.
Penpushing further reports that the Governor added that the Amotekun journey began earlier in July 2019, and the six states of the Southwest, namely Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo States, agreed to set up this outfit.
“Amotekun is indeed a first of its kind security agency because it is a regional security outfit initiated by one of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. History will also state that the headquarters is here in Oyo State, since its founding’
‘We have been taking steps to ensure that the security outfit kicks off operations. In March 2020, the Oyo State House of Assembly passed the Oyo State Security Network Agency Bill 2020, which I signed into law a few days later.
“Although COVID-19 and other logistical issues delayed the recruitment process, we ran an open and transparent recruitment process that culminated in announcing the 1,500
successful candidates’ names in October 2020. Shortly after that, their training began in the first week of November’.
“Security has always been an issue close to my heart. While on the campaign trail, I spoke about how we could tackle insecurity in Oyo State. We outlined clear plans in our manifesto, the roadmap to Accelerated Development in Oyo State 2019-2023’.
“And so, when we came into office, we went ahead to make security one of the pillars of our administration. Our actions have been based on the fact that if our state is insecure, we cannot attract investment, whether foreign or local, so far, we have supported our federal security outfits, who do their best to protect our people. We provided them with communication gadgets and patrol vehicles’.
“More recently, we requested for and established just this past May 2020, the Police Mobile Force 72 Squadron at Ago-Are and presented them with patrol vehicles for the outfit’s operations.”
“But as I have argued on various fora, for governors to really play the role of Chief Security Officers of their states, state policing is the way forward. I am confident that someday, we will get enough support at the national level to achieve that constitutional review’, he stated.
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