CRIME RATE GROWS AS AMOTEKUN BATTLES FUNDING, OTHERS

CRIME RATE GROWS AS AMOTEKUN BATTLES FUNDING, OTHERS

AMOTEKUN SOUTHWEST SECURITY OUTFIT.

South-West Security Network, popularly known as Operation Amotekun, is battling with problems of funding and equipment in Ondo and Ekiti states, where it has commenced activities.

But 10 months after it was inaugurated by the South-West governors in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, it has yet to begin operations in Ogun, Lagos, Osun and Oyo states.

However, there has been an increase in kidnapping, assassinations and other crimes in the zones.

Investigations on Monday by our correspondents revealed that while governments of Ogun, Lagos and Osun states had not inaugurated the security outfits despite security challenges, it had not begun activities in Oyo State, where it had been inaugurated.

However, the Commandant of the initiative in Ondo State, Mr Adetunji Adeleye, in an interview with The PUNCH said Amotekun had been operating successfully in the state in synergy with other security agencies.

He, however, said the agency was facing with the challenge of funding, training and equipment for its personnel.

Adeleye noted that the state government had ensured prompt payment of salaries and allowances of the personnel of the agency.

He said, “We are having good relationship with the police and the Department of State Services. Last Thursday, we arrested 32 suspects in connection with armed robbery and kidnapping and we handed them over to the police.

“The funding is not coming as expected in the area of operation, training and equipment but we are still doing our jobs effectively.”

In Ekiti State, the Corps Commander, Brig. Gen. Joe Komolafe (retd.), said issue of weapons remained a big challenge to the security outfit.

He  said,  “Like the Chairman of South-West Governors Forum and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, said, we will keep on lobbying the Federal Government to know that Amotekun is not a counter-force, so, one of these days, the issue of weapon will be resolved.

“We are still using wisdom to actually curtail that challenge. It is a big challenge to us. But mere seeing you in uniform makes people to respect you. We don’t carry weapons; the law does not permit us to carry weapons.”

The commandant also identified lack of facilities to keep exhibits.

The Commander of Amotekun Corps in Osun State, Amitolu Shittu, told the The PUNCH that the corps would begin operations in February.

Amitolu said, “We cannot begin operations until February next year because people that will go for training will spend at least 60 days in camp. After that, we will come out fully.

“The recruitment process that we initiated is still on. We only need time to sort out some issues.”

The corps had in June started the screening of 13,000 applicants.

On its part, the Ogun State Government said it would soon inaugurate Amotekun Corps.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Communications, Remmy Hazzan, told one of our correspondents that the delay in the take off of the corps was due to logistics issues.

Hazzan said, “Weill soon inaugurate the Amotekun, it remains just few logistics.”

In Lagos State, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, said the state had no intention of abandoning the initiative.

Omotoso, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said the state governor, Mr Babjide Sanwo-Olu, had signed the Amotekun bill into law.

He said, “It is not as if we are against Amotekun, but people have to realise that we had the Neighbourhood Safety Corps which has been existing. What Amotekun is supposed to be doing is what the Neighbourhood Safety Corps has been doing and we are trying to strengthen it. I do not know whether there are plans to change the name of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps to Amotekun.”

In Oyo State, where the security outfit had been inaugurated, the Public Relations Officer of the Amotekun Corps, Mrs Ayolola Adedoja, said the governor wanted the security outfit to begin work immediately.

“We are not waiting. We are taking off immediately,” he said.

There has been an upsurge in crime rates in the South-West states including Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Oyo.

In Ekiti State for instance, a Chinese engineer was kidnapped on Friday, after a policeman guarding him was shot dead along the new Ado Ekiti – Iyin Ekiti Road.

A day earlier, gunmen shot dead the presiding pastor of Solution Baptist Church, Ikere Ekiti, Revd Johnson Oladimeji, in his car along Igbara Odo-Ikere Ekiti Road on his way back from Osun State to Ekiti State.

The Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Adebanji Alabi, said the rising insecurity in the Southwest had further buttressed the point that the issue of insecurity should be handled with the seriousness it deserved.

Oba Alabi, who is the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, said, “The time is now for Amotekun to commence its operational phase throughout the South-West geopolitical zone, especially during Yuletide season.”

In Oyo State, the Publicity Secretary of the state Agro Park Investors in Igangan, Mr Tope Sonuga, told our correspondent that apart from the fact that herdsmen had been destroying their farms, and residents of the communities had come under attacks from the herdsmen.

Sonuga said in November, one Jide Odeyemi was kidnapped but escaped from his abductors by providence. He said some farmers were attacked with swords and their hands were almost chopped off, calling on the government to protect them.

In Ondo State, no fewer than 20 people have been kidnapped in the last one month.

They include the wife of the Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu while one of the first class monarchs in the state, the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adewusi was shot dead by the bandit in Elegbeka Area of Ose Local Government.

The state Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Joshua Opayinka, who described the state of insecurity in the state as pathetic, said, “Everybody should be watchful. The citizens should not hesitate to give out useful information to the security agencies.” he said.

The Commander of the Ondo State Amotekun, Adetunji Adeleye, said, “Our men are working hard to ensure adequate security in the state. We have also put our men on 24-hour patrol on the expressway to flush out the hoodlums on the highway.”

@punchng.com: Dayo Ojerinde, Bola Bamigbola, Daud Olatunji, Abiodun Nejo and Peter Dada